RUCKMAN Daniel Currie has ignored interest from opposition clubs and re-signed with North Melbourne to the end of 2015.
After joining North in last year's national draft, Currie performed so strongly in the pre-season he almost usurped Todd Goldstein as the Roos' No. 1 ruckman in round one.
Currie's season with North's VFL affiliate Werribee has been disrupted by injury.
However, when he has played his form has been good enough to attract the attention of clubs in the market for an experienced ruckman.
Yet to make an AFL debut despite also spending 2007-11 on the Sydney Swans' list, Currie was due to come out of contract at the end of this season.
But the 24-year-old told North’s website on Tuesday he'd had no hesitation in re-signing with the Roos.
"Rather than let different enquiries from other clubs gain momentum and me put talks on hold at North, I thought it was best to just re-sign straight away and really make my intentions clear," Currie said.
"I love the club and I want to stay here for the long haul."
Currie said he was excited by what the future held for North's emerging young list and confident he could play a part in it.
"I had a really good chat with Brad (Scott) last week just to clarify my role in the team and where he sees me fitting in and he made it really clear – without guaranteeing me a game or a spot – that there is definitely a future for me here," Currie said.
"He just encouraged me to keep pushing for selection and keep developing and the rewards will come."
Currie believes he and Goldstein can play in the same team and hopes they get the opportunity to prove that soon.
"I want to show we can work in tandem and become a formidable combination for years to come," Currie said.
"It's been frustrating not to have played any senior footy, but there's still three games left and that's my goal for the rest of the year."
Meanwhile, North is hopeful vice-captain Jack Ziebell will overcome a lower leg injury in time to take on Essendon this Sunday, and expects to regain key defender Nathan Grima from back soreness.
Ziebell was injured in the third quarter of North's loss to Adelaide last Sunday, but after spending some time on the bench came back on and finished the game.
North Melbourne medical services director Steve Saunders said scans on Ziebell's right leg had revealed a low-grade ligament injury just above the ankle.
Saunders said North thought Ziebell would be fit to take on the Bombers but wouldn't know until Friday.
"He'll stay in a moonboot until probably Thursday and then we'll see how he looks from there," Saunders said.
"We won't take any chance with Jack. If he's not right, he won’t be playing."
North said Grima has recovered well from the back soreness that has sidelined him for the past two rounds and will put his hand up to play against the Bombers.
However, key defender Cameron Delaney has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a toe injury.
Saunders said Delaney, 21, could have played out the season, but North had decided to book him in for minor surgery this week to ensure he was fit to start 2014 pre-season training.
