Sam Wright played 136 games for the Kangaroos after being recruited 18 selections behind Jack Ziebell in the 2008 national draft. Here he shares his front-row memories of the skinny teenager who would become one of North Melbourne's greatest players.

"Wrighty, if you keep floating mate then I’m going to have to put Jack Ziebell on you."

They were the words Murray Bushrangers coach Phil Bunn said to me after I had put in a pretty ordinary effort in the first half of a practice match in the pre-season of 2008.

I didn’t know much about the kid from Wodonga at that point, but I’ll always remember the way he said the words. Like it was a warning.

I waved it off initially. Until I saw this big fully developed man running down to take his starting position next to me. 

Sixty or so minutes later I knew why Phil had delivered the words with such menace. Jack went on to pick up possessions at will, and even had a couple of shots at goal while playing on me at half-back.

He was bloody hard and tough but he was good. Very good.

I knew it from that moment that he was going to be a star, and we ended up playing in a TAC Cup premiership together to finish off the year.

Months later, when we were fortunate enough to be drafted to North Melbourne together, a firm friendship turned into a lifelong bond. But I’ll come back to that later.

Despite a pretty ragged start to his time at Arden St when Jack found himself at the back at the pack in all of our running drills, he was destined for great things.

It seemed that every time he set foot on the ground he created a moment that young players just don’t do. Moments you’d remember forever as some of the toughest football you’d seen.

Then he’d do something else a few minutes later to overtake that last benchmark.

Most notable, the big goals, normally outside the arc in big moments where Jack would raise both arms to the crowd with the No.7 proudly facing the players on the field. 

I could keep writing about all of that. All the stuff that made him a fan favourite from the word 'go'.

The multiple times he played with broken ribs, when he came back on the ground with severe injuries because his team needed him, the times he defied the best medical advice to return to the side weeks before he should have, because it was always the team before Jack.

Instead I want to remind everyone about his skill and his ability to deliver in clutch moments.

If I could pinpoint one thing to illustrate his talent, his dependability and poise, as I’ve mentioned earlier, it’d be his habit of kicking long goals while playing through the midfield.

Like the time he kicked four goals from 27 touches in his first game of his fourth season in a win over Geelong in 2012. That was a Geelong midfield featuring names like Bartel, Selwood, Corey, Kelly, Duncan and Chapman.

Two years later I had the privilege of watching him kick two big last-quarter goals against the same team in a big final at the MCG. I’ve never been more proud of someone on the football field than in that moment.

He was destined to do that – kick long goals from set shots at the 'G in a big final. I remember how calm I was watching him line up for those kicks. He was never going to miss.

I can still picture him in defiant and confident celebration. Arms outstretched, looking to the crowd and then to his teammates.

When you add those moments to that legendary toughness, selflessness and reliability, his name sits comfortably alongside the many greats of the club. He’s one of the greatest ever North Melbourne players and he represents everything that’s great about our club and the game of football.

And that’s before you even get to talking about him as a bloke.

I’m so lucky to call him my best mate. I say that sincerely but also knowing there’d be so many people who could and would say the same thing.

Ziebs has this incredible ability to make everyone he meets feel special. He asks questions of them and he listens. He cares and he enjoys finding out more about those he comes into contact with.

Schoolmates, past teammates, staff members, kids he grew up with in Wodonga. He’s just a humble, genuine and authentic bloke.

So to his wife Shannie, daughter Pippa, his family, thank you for supporting Jack throughout his career and for sharing him with so many other people that he has impacted during his time at North Melbourne. 

And thanks for going through the anxiety of watching a total fearless warrior doing his thing for the blue and white week after week, year after year.

Jack, we’re all so proud of you and wish it could go on forever. But as you’ve said so many times, and especially this last 12 months, the club is in great hands.

I look forward to sitting with you in the stands, when this group, the boys you’ve had such an impact on, take us back to September.