NORTH Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell remains disappointed by the recent alcohol-related indiscretions by Luke McDonald and Jy Simpkin, but emphatically denies the club has a cultural problem.

Simpkin accidentally walked into the path of a motorcyclist after a night out last month, while McDonald was sanctioned for drinking with a group of younger players on the Kangaroos' subsequent community camp in Hobart.

North officials had cautioned their players during the Hobart camp about drinking in the wake of Simpkin's accident, and McDonald, as the senior member of the group involved, was suspended by the club for the Kangaroos’ second JLT Community Series game against Richmond.

Ziebell told AFL.com.au at Captains Day that Simpkin's and McDonald's indiscretions had violated the high standards North expected of its young playing group.

But the skipper was adamant those incidents were isolated and not reflective of a larger problem.

Season preview: North Melbourne

"There's no cultural problem, none whatsoever," Ziebell said.

"We're talking about two separate incidents that are completely unrelated, and in both instances there has been an extremely encouraging response from the players involved."

Ziebell said McDonald's suspension had been partly designed to send a message to the playing group.

"I think we just had to make sure everyone understood what's required to play footy for North Melbourne," the Roos skipper said.

Both McDonald and Simpkin will be available for selection in North's round one team that will take on Gold Coast in Cairns next Saturday night.

Ziebell is in no doubt vice-captain Robbie Tarrant will be fit to take on the Suns after he suffered a bruised kidney in the Kangaroos' JLT loss to Richmond, and expects Ben Jacobs will join him in the Roos’ team after being sidelined for almost two years with foot injuries.

"'Tazzy' will play round one for sure. He trained lightly yesterday and was on light duties for a week. I'll think that he'll aim to train fully again tomorrow as well and that gives him over a week until round one," Ziebell said.

"Full training from hereon in and he'll be ready to head up to Cairns for round one, which will be good.

"Ben has played the last two JLT games, trained in every session pretty much and hasn't missed a beat and has said he's felt the best he has since he's been back.

"I expect him to play in round one and hopefully to play the role he needs to play for the team."