"I was probably a little bit inconsistent last year," Ziebell said this week.
"I just need to get out there consistently and make sure I'm not just having one good game here and a shocker there. I need to eradicate that from my game.
"I just need to be more consistent in my approach. That's the way I'll attack my footy next year."
When at his best in 2012, Ziebell played like the gilt-edged midfielder North expected he would become when it drafted him with pick No.9 in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft.
In his first game for 2012, in round three against Geelong, Ziebell starred with 27 possessions and four goals, including the sealer late in the Roos' 17-point win.
And in the Roos' 96-point elimination final loss to West Coast at Patersons Stadium, Ziebell was one of the few North players to stand up, racking up 30 possessions (18 contested) and 12 clearances.
But in nine of the 15 games Ziebell played in between those matches he had less than 20 possessions.
This contrasted starkly with Ziebell's strong finish to 2011, when in his last 10 games he had 27 possessions or more five times and - if you exclude North's round 22 win over Fremantle when he was subbed off early after a heavy knock - averaged nearly 23 possessions.
Obviously, you can't judge a player - even a midfielder - purely on possession tallies. Especially, someone like the big-bodied Ziebell whose robust bodywork and blocking make him a vital cog in North's midfield.
Despite missing six games through two separate suspensions, Ziebell finished second at North for contested possessions (185) and clearances (106) in 2012, and continued to work hard in the clinches when he didn't have the ball, finishing equal fourth for tackles (65).
In fairness, Ziebell also struggled with back soreness in the middle of the season, so much so he was substituted from North's round nine win over the Brisbane Lions early in the second half.
But, as you'd expect from someone appointed as club vice-captain shortly before his 21st birthday, Ziebell sets tough benchmarks for himself.
Ziebell knows he does not have to look far to find a benchmark for consistency - his skipper, Andrew Swallow.
Swallow averaged nearly 26 possessions over 23 games in 2012 and had less than 20 disposals just three times. Not surprisingly, he was a runaway winner of North's best and fairest award, and has now won three of the Roos' past four best and fairests.
Ziebell said Swallow had been an outstanding leader since assuming the Roos captaincy from Brent Harvey in February.
"I think his best asset is leading by example and as you've seen over the last three years he hasn't put a foot wrong," Ziebell said.
"He sets a benchmark around the club for training standards. The way he conducts himself is first-class.
"It's no secret why he plays the way he does out on the field."
Ziebell's desire to lift his game is consistent with coach Brad Scott's vision for the club over the next few years.
After North's elimination final loss, Scott said the Roos would seek to improve in 2013 and beyond through the "organic" development of its young players, 13 of whom had just played their first AFL final.
Ziebell said North's youngsters were conscious that for the club to build on their 2012 finals campaign they cannot continue to be overly reliant on veterans like Harvey, Drew Petrie and Daniel Wells.
"Over the past three years since Brad's been here he's preached that hard work is the main way to go," Ziebell said.
"I think our young guys are getting a much better understanding about the reward that comes from hard work.
"With them understanding that and standing up like they did in the second half of 2012 and taking a bit more ownership, that's where the improvement will come from, and will continue to come from in the next 12-24 months."
Ziebell says North's ultimate aim is basic: "We want to be known as a team that can go and beat anyone, anywhere."
Which is why the pain of the elimination final loss to the Eagles still lingers at Aegis Park.
As he prepared to leave for North's three-week high-altitude training camp in Utah, Ziebell said that loss would spur him on over the pre-season.
"It was not the way we want to be known for playing our footy," he said of the loss.
"It gives you a lot of motivation to come back in the pre-season and train really hard and make sure you're ready to go round one."
Nick Bowen covers North Melbourne news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nick
