Less than 48 hours after thinking he would be picked up by the Brisbane Lions and heading interstate, Ziebell will instead find himself boarding a Roo bus at 7.30am today for a training camp at Wilson’s Promontory.

The Wodonga teenager is ecstatic.

“It’s turned out perfectly,” Ziebell said yesterday.

“I’m stoked to be staying in Melbourne because North is a great club and I have a lot of good friends living here already.

“I thought I was going to Brisbane but when Daniel Rich went there it meant I could stay in Victoria.

“It’s been an exciting couple of days.”

Ziebell, 17, has been joined at the Roos by Murray Bushrangers teammate Sam Wright and the pair were bombarded with calls from their new teammates, coach Dean Laidley and president James Brayshaw on Saturday.

North Melbourne recruiting manager Bryce Lewis spent time with Ziebell on the AIS Academy’s tour of South Africa earlier this year and believes the Roos have something special on their hands.

“We certainly didn’t expect it until Friday when we heard Brisbane may take Daniel Rich, but the club is just delighted,” Lewis said.

“He’s been an accomplished player for the Murray Bushrangers, AIS and Victoria Country and has a really good head on his shoulders.

“His ability to play in the midfield and push forward is really exciting from our point of view.

“We think he has good leadership qualities as well and, with a young side, that’s another real positive.

“We couldn’t be happier.

Ziebell, who hyper-extended his knee playing for Victoria in the national championships and was restricted with his training as the Murray Bushrangers charged to the TAC Cup premiership, is keen to start work at Wilson’s Promontory today.

“I’m looking forward to getting into it,” he said.

“The camp will be a good chance to meet everyone and start working on my fitness.

“It’s all happened fairly quickly and at least things are sorted out now.

“Having Sam (Wright) here as well will be good.”