"It was quite weird. You feel like you are almost a spectator sitting there for the first three quarters, the next minute you are out there," he said.

The North Melbourne vice-captain, and hard-nut midfielder, was a surprise selection as substitute, even though he was just returning from a knee injury which still requires he avoid contact on it at training.

"I probably didn't have the impact I wanted to on the game,'' he said. "It's a different way to look at the game as well. You can see it all unfold, then you have got a chance to make something happen."

Ziebell, in his own words, hasn't quite had the impact he had hoped for this season. Chatting near the boundary at Arden Street on a sunny afternoon this week, Ziebell refused to let injury – he also missed three matches after hurting his shoulder in round two and then returning with it still sore – be an excuse.

He is averaging 18 possessions this year, down from his career-high of 21 last season, and his numbers in contested possessions, inside 50s, tackles, clearances and score involvements have also slipped.

"It's been a little bit frustrating,'' he said. "Probably my output hasn't been what I wanted but I still think I am contributing to the team, playing my role. Hopefully, I will string a few games together at the end of the year.

"I have had a couple of injuries which have been frustrating but, as you know, you can't use that as an excuse. I am probably not going to be a guy that has it 35 times every week, as much as you would like to.

"It's just about what you can do with your possessions and how you use them. You can be a very influential player having 20 touches and get the ball inside 50 10 times and kick a couple of goals.

"You really benefit the team. For me, it starts inside the contest and making sure I am aggressive and physical and winning the contested footy. If I am doing that, I am playing my best footy, which is probably something I haven't done as well as I have in previous years, which has been a little frustrating.

"You just have to make sure you bring your best every week. Unfortunately, this year I haven't done that every week. [I have] had some good games, had some poor games. That's every footballers challenge - to bring the poor up to the good and then you have that little gap, which is what the elite do. I am trying really hard to do that."

Ziebell, since being drafted with the ninth pick in the 2009 draft, has never been dropped to the VFL. Outside of the club, it's been questioned whether that has beneficial for his development. For his part, Ziebell, now with 92 matches to his credit, knows all he can do is work hard.

"I have been quite lucky, actually, I haven't been there [in the VFL]. Hopefully I don't have to be there," he said.

In recent weeks as he pondered how best to regain top form - and retain that tempo - Ziebell has begun to consider the possible benefits of seeking a mentor outside of the club, or someone - outside of his father - who he can have a chat to about life on the footy field. Someone whose game had been built on the fundamentals of what Ziebell is and wants to be.

The football world has seen what Kangaroos' great Wayne Carey has done to help transform Essendon forward Jake Carlisle this season.

"That is something I will probably look into. To get something like that would be pretty good," Ziebell said.

"I have thought about that, even with a guy like [teammate] Ben Cunnington, we could go and have a chat with someone who plays that similar role."

Any ideas?

"I think someone like Michael Voss would be pretty nice. We'll see how we go," he said.

Voss, the Brisbane great, had come up earlier in the interview when Ziebell was asked about suggestions he had been told internally he had the assets to play in Voss' manner.

Ziebell said that wasn't the case but added: "If I could be half the player Michael Voss was, I would be pretty happy."

"Obviously, Michael Voss is a jet and I love the way he went about his footy, just being the physical guy that got his team going. If I could have that sort of impact on our team, I would be very excited. I believe I can have an impact on our team. This year I haven't been as consistent as I would have wanted."

Voss, who did not return calls from Fairfax Media, was legendary for his ability to turn matches, including finals and grand finals. His last-quarter performance in the 2002 grand final against Collingwood was one for the ages.

Ziebell has shown the ability to do that, albeit not yet on football's biggest stage. It's what he relishes, and says the responsibility rests comfortably with him.

"That's my role, I think. Along with our leaders and other senior players, you don't have to be in the leadership group to have a leading title, when things are going tough as a senior player, you have to step up and that is something I like to do as well," Ziebell said.

With five rounds remaining in the season, beginning for the Roos on Saturday night against Geelong, Ziebell knows it's time for him - and his teammates - to step up.

The Roos have been difficult to predict this season. There has been progression with wins against the top teams, but frustration with defeats to the likes of Carlton, Gold Coast and the Brisbane Lions, teams they were expected to beat. This has meant hopes of a top-four finish have slipped.

"That's frustrating but that's the challenge we are faced with and have the challenge to resolve," Ziebell said.

"It's a big five weeks for myself and for the team leading into the finals, as it is for every other team in the league."