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Jasper Bruce

Ziebell relinquishes North AFL captaincy

Jack Ziebell has stepped down as captain of AFL club North Melbourne. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Jack Ziebell has stepped down as captain of North Melbourne, believing the time is right for a younger player to take charge.

Ziebell, 31, replaced Andrew Swallow as skipper ahead of the 2017 AFL season and led the Kangaroos in 111 games, making him North Melbourne's longest-serving captain since club legend Wayne Carey.

North Melbourne have yet to announce their new skipper but last year's vice-captains Jy Simpkin and Luke McDonald are potential candidates.

Kayne Turner, Ben Cunnington, Nick Larkey and Aidan Corr rounded out the club's leadership group in 2022.

"Now that I've reached the later stages of my career the time has come for me to hand over the reins," Ziebell said in a statement.

"I'll be there to support the next captain in any way I can and I have no doubt the incoming captain will lead our club with purpose and passion.

"The captaincy has been an unbelievably rewarding role, I feel lucky to have been given the opportunity and I'm a better person for the experience."

Ziebell presided over North Melbourne through six difficult seasons, including consecutive finishes at the bottom of the ladder in 2021 and 2022.

The side will hope the arrival of new coach Alastair Clarkson, and the acquisition of top-10 draft picks Harry Sheezel and George Wardlaw can herald a change in fortune.

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