Ziebell ready to face Suns
SORE North Melbourne skipper Jack Ziebell is set to shake off a shoulder complaint to take on Gold Coast in their clash at Metricon Stadium.
Ziebell received treatment on his right shoulder late in last week’s loss to the Western Bulldogs but North coach Brad Scott expects him to lead the side against the Suns tomorrow.
“He’s going to train fully, so he should be OK,” Scott said yesterday.
“He’s been a little bit banged up this year at various stages but that’s just the way he goes about it. He should be fine.
“We obviously won’t take any risks with him but we expect him to be right.”
Star midfielder Ben Cunnington won’t play against the Suns as he serves a one-game suspension for striking Western Bulldogs’ Toby McLean.
Cunnington’s left jab landed between McLean’s neck and chest, the difference between a fine and a ban, but Scott has no regrets about his club’s decision not to contest the charge at the tribunal.
“The bottom line with the Cunnington thing is he did something, which he regrets,” the coach said.
“He had a clenched fist and you can argue that he got him in the chest or the neck . . . one angle shows that maybe he got him in the neck, so to the letter of the law the decision is correct.
“We’re not going to fight a decision that we actually think is probably right.
“Ben’s disappointed . . . he was fined after the Melbourne game for a little sneaky jumper punch and he didn’t learn his lesson, so we cop the penalty on the chin.”
Ruckman Braydon Preuss had 63 hitouts in the VFL last week but won’t be considered as he nurses a sore elbow.