NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott says he'll be "very disappointed" if Kangaroos skipper Andrew Swallow doesn't make the All Australian team this year.

First-year skipper Swallow, who took over the leadership from veteran Brent Harvey, was again among the Roos best with 24 disposals, including a team-high 13 contested possessions, in the gutsy win over Essendon on Sunday night.

Swallow has played every game and is averaging 25.9 disposals, 13.2 contested possessions, 6.8 clearances and 7.4 tackles. He leads the AFL in tackles and is in the top five in each of clearances, contested possessions and handballs.

"He's had a super first up year as captain and if he's not in the All Australian team I'll be very disappointed," Scott told SEN on Monday morning.

"Andrew Swallow's been the mainstay of our midfield.

"The difficult thing with that team is that you've got to get a lot of midfielders in there. If he can't get a spot in the midfield, hopefully they can play him at half-forward."

Swallow won't have the assistance of fellow midfielder Leigh Adams (shoulder) for at least this week's clash with Collingwood, but he will be joined by Jack Ziebell, who is available after serving a controversial four-match suspension for rough conduct

Scott is excited about the return of a fitter and fresher Ziebell, who has spent some of his time on the sidelines training in Utah in the US.

"He's in terrific nick on the training track," he said.

"While we were bitterly disappointed to have him suspended, the four weeks off has actually given him a chance to train really hard. He's actually running better times in his fitness tests now than he was at the end of pre-season. So he'll come back in and really strengthen our side."

Scott knows his side will need to be at its best against the Magpies, who knocked off top side the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

A former Magpies assistant coach, Scott was particularly taken by the improved collective efforts of forward pair Chris Dawes and Travis Cloke.

"The ominous thing was Cloke and Dawes," he said.

"While they probably didn't get back to their All Australian-type form, they certainly looked dangerous forward. And when the game was up for grabs in the last quarter, both players had an influence."