North Melbourne midfielder Jy Simpkin will lead the club for the third season in 2025, this time as sole captain following Luke McDonald's decision to step away from the leadership role.

Simpkin, 26, will lead the Roos with support of Nick Larkey and Harry Sheezel, who have been appointed vice-captains after a vote from the playing group.

The Yorta Yorta man was named co-captain alongside McDonald ahead of the 2023 season, becoming just the seventh Indigenous man in VFL/AFL to lead a club, as well as North's first in close to 150 years of existence.

Alongside Palawa man Alex Pearce at Fremantle, Simpkin is one of two Indigenous skippers in the competition.

"Jy, Nick and Harry are outstanding leaders for our club and received strong support from the players and coaches," North Melbourne football general manager Todd Viney said.

"Jy has taken great strides forward in his leadership capabilities over the last two seasons, supported by Luke McDonald and is well placed to lead as a standalone captain."

The Mooroopna - outside of Shepparton - product's tenure has come during the club's continued lean period of success.

After success in their first two games in 2023, North waited until the final round of the home and away season to claim their third win of the season.

A captain's effort helped them claim four points for the first time in 2024, with a long-range set shot late in the piece helping the Kangaroos to get over West Coast in June.

"Pure joy. (I'm) just so pumped for a few of the young guys. We've been working our asses off for the last however long...some of these guys have gone 10-15 games without the win, so to see the enjoyment on their face, the excitement, just for everyone, the whole club, our fans...to see so many faces in the cheer squad, week in, week out, to see them and celebrate with them (it's) just an absolute awesome feeling," Simpkin said post-match.

Simpkin has played 152 senior games across eight years since arriving to the club with pick 12 in the 2016 national draft.