"Last week was very disappointing and this was our first opportunity to atone and earn some respect back," Ziebell told afl.com.au after his team's 31-point defeat of fellow top eight challengers the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
"The boys really hung tough through a difficult week, stuck together, and played really well today to fight off a pretty classy side in the Bulldogs."
Far from being flat and down on confidence after the 117-point drubbing, Ziebell said the North Melbourne players couldn't wait for a chance to show their true worth.
"If there was a game of footy on Monday, all the boys would have been straight out there," the 20-year-old said.
"That's the mentality you need, just to be frothing at the mouth to get back on the field."
Whereas Richmond famously chose not to review the tape of its 103-point loss to Carlton the week before North's big loss to the ladder-leading Magpies, North coach Brad Scott took the opposite approach, putting his players through a detailed review.
Ziebell said the lessons learnt from that review had been on show in the defeat of the Bulldogs.
"The coaches pointed out what we need to improve on and today was a good stepping stone in making those improvements," he said.
"Covering off a lot better defensively was a main focus, and that was really our strong suit today.
"There's obviously still areas we can improve on, but you can't question that effort."
Two tackles in the final quarter when the game was on the line typified the Kangaroos' defensive desire.
At the 14-minute mark with the game locked in an arm-wrestle, North sub Ben Speight chased down opposition forward Jarrad Grant as he streamed toward goal, preventing a certain goal.
Soon after, a desperate Leigh Adams sprinted after and caught Bulldog Lindsay Gilbee on centre-wing, sparking a North Melbourne forward thrust that eventually led to a Scott McMahon goal.
"They were spectacular, and it gives everyone around them the confidence to keep going," Ziebell said.
"That's what North Melbourne's all about."
Ziebell's own game was just as spectacular.
The 2008 No.9 NAB AFL Draft pick turned in the type of performance coach Brad Scott had always known he was capable of.
He peeled off 41 disposals (20 contested), including eight clearances and a goal to vie with fellow onballer Daniel Wells for best afield.
"Sometimes a recruiter says to me that a player's not the quickest, he's not the strongest, he's not the best kick, he can just play, and Jack Ziebell can just play," coach Scott said post-match.
"I think all North supporters have seen what Jack's capable of, but this is the first game they should really sit back and say, 'gee, he really can play. He can be an elite performer in the competition'."
Having suffered two broken legs in his first two seasons as an AFL footballer, Ziebell could be forgiven for giving himself a pat on the back after the career-best effort.
But the third-year Kangaroo was keener on awarding praise to his midfield teammates.
"It was good to get a couple of kicks, but more importantly the midfield group stood up against a pretty seasoned midfield group in the Bulldogs, and I think we got it done in the end," Ziebell said.
