OUTGOING North Melbourne football chief Donald McDonald sees the opportunity to help lead the club's commercial department as the next phase in North's progression.

McDonald will step aside from his role at the end of the year to allow his son Luke to make his own name as the club's father-son recruit. The Kangaroos have already committed to selecting Luke McDonald in this year's NAB AFL Draft.

With the on-field side of the club appearing to be relatively stable - coach Brad Scott is moving into his third year at the helm and has re-signed until the end of 2016, while a number of the Roos' most important players have also committed recently - McDonald will work closely with the off-field commercial staff in 2013 with the view of securing a position in a full-time capacity in 2014.

"I just think the real key challenge for our footy club, as a whole now, is we really need to expand on some of our commercial relationships and grow our fan base," McDonald, who is in his eighth year as football chief, told AFL.com.au.

"I'm passionate about that and it's just the next step. You've got to evolve. I'm not going to be footy manager forever, and now what this has done is probably given us a real good opportunity, as a club, to tap in to experience and see how it goes."

North hopes its decision to forge a relationship with Hobart will increase membership as well as the club's finances.

Earlier this month, the club said it was keen to play three games a year in Hobart from 2015 , upping its current agreement of two annual matches in Tasmania.

Hawthorn has benefited financially by growing its supporter base in Launceston, with the Roos keen to follow suit in the state's capital.

With some recent openings made available in North's commercial department, McDonald said the time was right for him to make the move.

"Instead of waiting, we needed to do it now. The commercial department needs some real support and it works out that I'll be able to lend them some support," McDonald said.

"AFL football is such a volatile environment nowadays. If you haven't got the resources or if you can't fund the footy department enough, you're going to battle."

North's development manager Jon Haines and list manager Cameron Joyce are leading candidates to take over as football chief, with McDonald working closely with the pair, who will assume increased duties this season.

Kangaroos chief executive Carl Dilena confirmed McDonald's replacement was still to be finalised.

"We have talked to them about a future without Donald in football and how their roles could change,'' Dilena told The Age.

"We are looking at whether we need to replace one person or do we change our model?"

Not withstanding his own career advancement, McDonald believes it's in the best interests of his son to step aside and let him develop without any perceived conflict of interest.

McDonald has said he did not want to compromise his role as father and that of football chief, saying he wanted to take away any undue distractions for his son.

"We've spoken about it for a while. There was always this chance that he was going to come on and get drafted," McDonald said.

"How is it going to effect the relationship that we have? But more I suppose the relationship he has with the players. Does it put him in a bit of an uncomfortable situation? He's never felt that and the players have been terrific with him.

"I just think that it's probably just a good time."

Luke McDonald made the trip to Utah for the club's pre-season camp and trained with the club up until January, before easing back to one session a week due to an AFL agreement.

He will continue to train a couple of nights a week with VFL affiliate Werribee, while also combining his Under-18 Vic Metro commitments in 2013.

Ben Guthrie is a reporter for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter- @AFL_BenGuthrie