The Roos' vice-captain told the Herald Sun's Jay Clark there was intense internal scrutiny during the team's match review and training.
"If you go out there at the weekend and put out a performance that (against Brisbane) you are not proud of it. It is gut wrenching," Ziebell said.
"We have been holding each other really accountable, and like everything else in footy there is definitely room for improvement (in that area).
"...there's been some tough conversations that have had to be had and players have responded from that which is what we want.
"But footy is a great game where you get next week to bounce back and historically over the last probably season or so, after a poor loss we've responded and we are looking to do that again."
The 23-year-old says the Roos' must stamp out their costly fade-outs if they're to be respected as legitimate finals contenders.
While Ziebell will miss the clash with the Hawks on Friday night at Etihad Stadium, he believes it's a season defining game.
"I think mentally, for myself and the team, our concentration probably wasn't there for the whole game (last week)," he said.
"That's probably why we have been scored against so easily, so that's why we working really hard at training to fix that, and, against the Hawks play four quarters of consistent footy.
Despite talking tough during the week with regards to a ruthless approach at the selection table, North's lengthy injury list has prevented Brad Scott from swing the axe too hard.
"I'm supremely confident this week in the blokes who are going to take the field, because it is a big game for us.
Although North has beaten some of the competition's best teams, it faces being tipped out of the top eight if Hawthorn has its way. Ziebell acknowledges the club's 'Jekyll and Hyde' season reflects poorly on the leaders.
"Obviously from a leadership point of view including myself it's been a little bit of an inconsistent year and some guys in the leadership group might think the same," he said.
"But in terms of direction and the way we have tried to set the example has been pretty good. Obviously we have got to improve that some more because we are not getting results, so it's a never ending job."
With Brad Scott in his fifth year at the helm, the midfielder believes the players need to start repaying his faith before his patience runs out.
"Brad has been very supportive of the group over the period he has been at the club and the players respect Brad enormously," Ziebell said.
"So when Brad puts it on a player, you are expected to respond and I think that's the great thing with a coach like Brad.
"He has had a really productive week in that he has asked a lot from the players and hopefully the players can provide exactly what he needs."
