Rawlings, a veteran of 188 matches, said he could not speak highly enough of Ziebell, who joined North Melbourne as the No. 9 pick in November's NAB AFL Draft and has played eight games this year.
Ziebell missed the round-eight loss to Geelong with thigh soreness but joined Rawlings, also sidelined for that match with a calf strain, for the drive down to Skilled Stadium.
"I felt like I had a 30-year-old in the car with me," Rawlings said. "Normally with 17 or 18-year-old blokes, you've got to think about what things you're going to talk to them about.
"It was unbelievable."
The eighth-youngest player on current AFL lists and the only debutant from the bottom 10, Ziebell turned 18 in February but has shone through on-field maturity.
In 2008, he juggled football commitments with Caulfield Grammar, TAC Cup side Murray Bushrangers and the Vic Country under-18s – two years after making his senior debut with the Wodonga Bulldogs in the Ovens and Murray Football League.
With the physical attributes to sustain a spot in North's 22, Ziebell has a similarly developed character.
"I think the most impressive thing about Ziebs is you know that whatever is thrust at him is not going to go to his head," Rawlings said.
"He's just a very level-headed kid. He's not cocky at all, where some kids could be like that when they've done what he's done so far this year.
"He's the exact opposite and a good person to have at your footy club."
Earlier this month, midfielder Daniel Wells wrote in his column on the North Melbourne website that Ziebell had set an example for a lot of players and had a rare football mind for someone his age.
But coach Dean Laidley said after the round-seven win over Port Adelaide that Ziebell was going to be a "superstar".
Ziebell won the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for his 23-possession performance in that game.
"We probably haven't had anyone come in as quickly as he has, except for Daniel Wells, and make an impact in their first year," Rawlings added.
"He's going to be great for us down the track. He's already been good for us and has probably been up there in our better players for the year. It's a pretty good effort when you're 18 years old.
"Football-wise, he's got most attributes. He's tough and wins his own ball but he really uses it well, too. He's good overhead and good at ground level. It's hard to compare him to a lot of guys."
Rawlings could play a role in unearthing the next Jack Ziebell.
With a plan for his post-playing career, the 27-year-old has undertaken work experience with North's talent ID manager Bryce Lewis – attending TAC Cup games and studying match footage.
"I thought if I could get my hands dirty in the next couple of years and show that I've been putting a bit of work in over that amount of time, I might be a bit better prepared," he said.
Rawlings, who until his calf injury had played 94 games on end, was hopeful he still had three or four years left at Arden Street.
