IT’S very possible Jack Ziebell has been playing in the wrong position all along.

The born-again forward was instrumental in North Melbourne’s 28-point win over Hawthorn on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.

Not only did he boot two goals, but provided a third target in attack, adding a level of flexibility to the Roos forward line that also boasted Ben Brown and Jarrad Waite.

Tough, uncompromising, strong overhead and a reliable kick, David King questioned why Ziebell hadn’t spent more time near goal throughout his career.

Finals Week 1

Jack Ziebell. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

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“I think AFL now’s about maximising your assets and Brad Scott’s done that with Jack Ziebell today,” King said on Fox Footy.

“I think he’s a full forward that can play little bits in the midfield.

“He’s been a human pinball, he’s just bouncing around. He’s been a major part of why they’ve taken 13 marks inside 50 for a half of football.

“His understanding and know-how of where to kick the ball there just serves Ben Brown on a platter.

“You’ve got two viable targets in Jarrad Waite and in Jack Ziebell as well as the major focal point in Ben Brown.

“This is the perfect forward line mix for the Kangaroos going forward.

“Jack should no longer be a midfielder, he should be a full forward with 25 per cent in the midfield.”

While Hawthorn piled on six goals in the third term to make the game a contest, the match was ostensibly won in the first term.

North Melbourne piled on seven goals to Hawthorn’s two on the fast Etihad deck. Ruthless efficiency underpinned the performance.

Todd Goldstein won the battle of the big men comprehensively — and against Ben McEvoy no less. At the main break, North Melbourne had +6 hitouts and +10 clearances. It was silver service that had a ripple effect all the way through to the forward line.

The Kangaroos had kicked 9.6 from only 19 inside 50s midway through the second term, with Brown (four goals) the focal point throughout.

While Brown might not be the first player you’d choose if you were starting a team from scratch, his consistency cannot be undersold.

Ben Brown of the Kangaroos reacts. (AAP Image/Julian Smith) Source: AAP

He’s not the prototype forward. You know, the one with a big tank who roams up the ground and runs all day. And he’s certainly not the small pressure forward, the must have accessory after Richmond’s unlikely 2017 premiership.

He’s a forward in a traditional sense. He runs in straight lines and more than happy to park himself near the goal square.

And he’s leading the race for the Coleman Medal.

Yet in Ziebell and in Waite, Brown had many helpers.

Waite could have kicked three goals by quarter time were it not for his inaccuracy. He finished the match with three majors — and five behinds — and more questions than answers about his playing future.

For what it’s worth, he doesn’t look like a player who needs to hang up the boots.

Jarrad Waite. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

“He look like he’s in the prime of his career the way he’s moving around this forward line,” Adam Ramanauskas said on ABC Grandstand.

Yet it wasn’t just the playmakers who influenced the result.

Tagging has become an ugly word in footy, with coaches more inclined to use “run with” players. But semantics aside, Ben Jacobs was superb against Tom Mitchell.

At half time the Hawthorn ball magnet had been restricted to just 11 touches and two clearances, while Jacobs had 10 touches and one clearance to his name.

It was breaking in purist terms. But Jacobs’ selfless role was better described as breaking Hawthorn’s spirit.

Alastair Clarkson’s Hawks have earned a reputation as one of the best second quarter teams of the competition. But neither coach nor players had answers. Only one goal was added to their first term total.

The momentum did shift in the second half. And it was certainly noticeable the Kangaroos were down two rotations, as running became a chore.

Hawthorn got to within 21 points in the final term, but the brown and gold left their run too late.

Yet nothing should be taken away from North Melbourne.

They’re a club many touted as wooden spooners. Yet here they are, three wins from five starts.

It seems we might all need to reassess the situation.

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