Former North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell has revealed what he thought of Alastair Clarkson before he came to the club.
Clarkson - who is a four-time premiership coach at Hawthorn - joined the Kangaroos at the end of the 2022 season in a time of change for the organisation.
Following the sacking of David Noble, there was a vacancy at Arden Street that was quickly filled by the legendary coach, who simultaneously brought across experienced duo Todd Viney (GM of Football) and Brett Ratten (assistant) to help accelerate the rebuild.
Ziebell revealed on AFL.com.au's Friday Knock Offs that Clarkson was not what he first thought.
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"I had a perception of Alastair Clarkson before he came to North and he doesn't meet that perception at all. It is the complete opposite," Ziebell said.
"In fairness, I thought he was a bit of a psycho, punching walls and coaches box and going off his brain.
"But he has been so good for our group.
"Clarko coming on board...brings a level of stability for our footy club. Knowing his game plan that he is introducing this summer and the first few rounds this year is going to be around for a while.
"We're not going to master it overnight but we need to improve every week to get to the point where we can master it really quickly and become hard to play against.
"The level of compliance from our boys has been great, the buy-in has been awesome."
Ziebell is bullish by what the club is and has been building off field, creating an environment that allows players to flourish despite the lack of on-field success.
"We know the environment we're building off the field is really strong and that's something I love about our footy club," Ziebell said.
"We haven't had too many players leave our football club through the levers we've got as a modern day player like free agency and trades ... because of the environment at North that players have really enjoyed.
"We've never had the best facilities. We've never had the most money or the biggest supporter base but what we do have is the best people. I firmly believe that.
"And that's why I've never entertained an idea of leaving North as a player."
Since Ziebell started in 2009, the club has seen 17 players depart through trade and/or free agency.
Some of those names include premiership Hawks Josh Gibson and David Hale, club stars Sam Gibson (Adelaide) and Shaun Higgins (Geelong) and most recently Jason Horne-Francis, who controversially departed North Melbourne after his first season.
A footy feud comes alive on Saturday when North Melbourne face off with their old team-mate Jason Horne-Francis.
— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) May 11, 2023
Many of the Kangaroo players were miffed when he left none more so than Cameron Zurhaar. @bradeningram #9News pic.twitter.com/muKLiD8kVL
Despite the current position of the group, the number seven has "no doubt" that the club is heading in the right direction.
"Got no doubt whatsoever that we are on the right track as a footy club," Ziebell said.
"We understand it's going to be a bumpy journey, but hopefully we can get there a lot quicker than we think."
Growing up in a die-hard Collingwood family, Ziebell was forced to don the black-and-white before being drafted.
Following Nathan Buckley from a young age, the 32-year-old revealed why he always wears his socks up and why he'll never lower them.
"Nathan Buckley was socks up, jumper tucked in and I loved it. Loved the look," Ziebell said.
"We're a dying breed socks up and there's only a few blokes left around the league... Todd Goldstein, Patty Dangerfield.
"I've worn them down once in a game and broke my leg. So never again.
"That's probably the only superstition I have in football but I will never wear my socks down ever again."
North Melbourne currently sit 16th on the ladder with two wins from the first eight rounds.
They take on the Port Adelaide at Hobart on Saturday and will face Horne-Francis for the first time.
