North Melbourne vice-captain Jack Ziebell says he will use every opportunity to improve and learn off captain Andrew Swallow.

Ziebell was named standalone vice-captain for 2016, with many tipping the 24-year-old to take on the captaincy in the future.

It’s Swallow who Ziebell said would help further his own leadership credentials.

“Andrew has done an outstanding job the past four seasons and still has a lot to offer,” Ziebell told SEN’s The Run Home.

“In my position as a vice captain I’m really excited to learn. Hopefully we can learn a lot more off him and develop my leadership and playing potential as well – it’s a win-win situation all round.”

While being a member of the five man leadership group, alongside Swallow, Shaun Higgins, Jamie Macmillan and Scott Thompson, was a day-to-day priority for Ziebell, he said he knows his own on-field performance has to also be front of mind.

“My performance is number 1, very, very, very closely followed by my leadership,” he said.

“On-field leadership is probably one of my strengths. The off-field stuff is something I’ve been working hard on over the past three or four years.”

Ziebell said the Kangaroos playing group is close to being as fit as it has ever been at this point in the pre-season and confidence was high at Arden St.

“I think we’re improving. Last year and the year before, making two prelim finals was an ok result, but at the same time we don’t want to be playing in prelim finals and losing two years in a row – so that’s driven us this pre-season.

“I think the biggest thing is our consistency throughout the year. Especially the last two years, we’ve had slow starts to the year and at the halfway point we’ve been chasing our tails a little bit.”

The vice-captain said a desire to start the 2016 season off on the right foot was also a focus this pre-season.

“Last year we finished eighth on the ladder and that makes it really to try and make a Grand Final. So our thoughts and focus, as cliché as it is, is on Round 1.”

Ziebell also heaped praise on new recruit Jed Anderson, who joined the Roos during the 2015 trade period.

“Jed’s been outstanding since he arrived, done plenty of work and looks really good. He’s going to be a lively, half-forward/mid type that puts a lot of pressure on. He’s very crafty around goals and has got elite skills, so we can’t wait to get him in the side and see what he can do.”