Ziebell is an unabashed fan of the pair and hopes to set a similar example after replacing Andrew Swallow at the helm.

Robbie Tarrant will be his deputy.

“They (Hodge and Selwood) lead their teams exceptionally well,” Ziebell said.

“If you look at the team success they have had, there is probably a strong correlation to the way they go about it.

“They are definitely guys I look up to.

“I have been watching them closely for a number of years now and there will be stuff I will take out of their game for sure in terms of leadership.”

Ziebell is the first Albury-Wodonga player to lead an AFL club since North Albury’s Brett Kirk co-captained Sydney from 2006 until 2010.

While the former Wodonga junior acknowledged added pressures came with the captaincy, he’s looking future to leading North Melbourne into a new era.

“To be named captain is a huge honour,” he said.

“It’s something I won’t take lightly.

“At end of the day a whole lot doesn’t change in the way I act around the footy club but there is added responsibility.

“Our job is to set the expectations for our young guys and make sure the standards we set are being met.

“It’s sad to see the old guys leave but we have 11 out of 44 guys who are brand new to the footy club.

“A lot of putty is ready to be moulded in a sense.”

North Melbourne lost 1345 games of experience at the end of the season when Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo weren’t offered contracts.

But Ziebell scoffed at suggestions of a rebuild.

”The first two or three weeks we have had on the track have been outstanding,” he said.

“There is a sense of great opportunity.

“Forty-four doesn’t fit into 22 for round one.”