NORTH Melbourne continues to usher in its next generation of leaders with veteran midfielder Daniel Wells stepping down to allow Jamie Macmillan to join the Roos' leadership group.
North announced its seven-man leadership group for 2015 on Monday afternoon, with 23-year-old Macmillan the only addition to last year's group and Wells, 30, the only omission.
Andrew Swallow will continue as captain, with Drew Petrie, Jack Ziebell, Nick Dal Santo, Scott Thompson and Sam Gibson set to resume their official leadership roles.
Wells' decision to stand down follows a similar move by former skipper Brent Harvey on the eve of last season.
"There's a few reasons. Primarily what we're trying to build here, like every club, is a really broad range of leaders," coach Brad Scott said.
"We really feel that to give our emerging leaders a chance to come through we need to have succession plan in place.
"Brent Harvey started that a few years ago, and in line with that Wellsy will step down and focus on his footy.
"He will obviously still be a very good leader for us, but won't be an official member of the leadership group, and that will allow Jamie Macmillan to come in."
Harvey's decision allowed Sam Gibson to come into the Roos' leadership group last year, while Macmillan's promotion is another nod to the Roos' emerging group of young leaders.
Macmillan's leadership skills have long been recognised at Arden Street, while the former Scotch College student has established himself as a regular senior player when fit over the past three seasons.
"He's a terrific off-field leader in terms of the way he prepares himself to play footy," Scott said.
"He's really got his life sorted off-field. He sets a great example in off-field engagement.
"He represents a lot of what North Melbourne holds dear, and that's community engagement.
"On-field he missed a lot of footy last year so it's a terrific effort for his teammates to recognise that even on-field – after only playing a handful of games last year - he still provides us with a lot of leadership.
"His inclusion in the leadership group gives us great balance and it provides a bit of a spur for some of our other emerging leaders.
"Certainly the senior players know that we have succession planning in place.
"The young guys know that if they keep developing that they'll get opportunities."
Prior to breaking his right leg against Port Adelaide in round three last year, Macmillan had played 49 consecutive games in defence and on the wing.
Sidelined for 16 weeks, he needed just three games in the VFL to earn a senior recall in round 23 against Melbourne and held his spot for North's first two finals before a hamstring injury ended his 2014 season.
Brad Scott told AFL.com.au earlier this month that he would ideally like to see Swallow hand over North's captaincy before he retires.
Such a leadership succession is almost certainly a few years off, and Ziebell, 23, shapes as the unbackable heir apparent for now.
However, by the time Swallow eventually steps down, Macmillan should have bolstered his claims for the top job.
North recruited Macmillan from the Oakleigh Chargers with pick No.37 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.
