RooTube EXCLUSIVE: Dean Laidley announces captaincy to players

THREE weeks after Adam Simpson relinquished the post, North Melbourne has appointed veteran midfielder Brent Harvey as its new captain.

With 264 games and a host of personal accolades to his credit, Harvey seemed the logical replacement for Simpson on paper but first needed the endorsement of his teammates, coaches and club officials.

That process began in the days following Simpson's announcement, and it was the former skipper that flagged Drew Petrie, Brady Rawlings and Daniel Pratt as the other contenders.

The popular Petrie will be Harvey's deputy, while Rawlings and Pratt will round out a four-man leadership group.

"When you first come to a footy club you don't really dream about leading the team," Harvey said from Arden Street on Wednesday, less than half-an-hour after his first training session in the role.

"When Dean (Laidley) gave me the opportunity to do so, I was honoured and it's something I'm really looking forward to. It's another chapter in my football career now."

Despite turning 30 this year, Harvey gave a resounding indication he has years left in a career that commenced in 1996 and included North's last premiership of 1999.

In 2008, he won his fourth Syd Barker Medal – becoming the fourth player in club history to do so – was the only Roo to earn All-Australian honours and held Brownlow Medal favouritism for a lot of the season.

However, he said that being named captain of his country for last month's International Rules Series against Ireland exceeded everything but his premiership medallion.

And the experience would have fuelled his club desires, recently acknowledging he'd love to lead the Roos.

"Dean spoke to us this morning [to let us know of the decision] and obviously Drew, Brady and Pratty – it was out of us four I guess – all three of them could have done a pretty good job," he said.

"I don't think I need to change too much. I've been in the leadership group for six or seven years now and Simmo's been captain for the last five years. I've learnt a lot from him.

"[As long as I can] improve as a player still and improve as a person, improve slightly as a leader, I [don't] think it's going to be a hugely challenging job.

"I've got a good leadership group behind me as well, so I'm sure they'll help out."

With the retirement of Shannon Grant, Harvey and Simpson are the only players remaining from the '99 flag-winning side and North now hopes 'Boomer' can lead the club to its next.

Simpson's tenure as captain included three finals berths, but was at times clouded by uncertainty over the club's off-field future.

That has changed since North's current administration committed to its Melbourne base and the construction of new facilities, while welcoming record membership numbers.

"It's an exciting time," Harvey said.

"[But] I don't know if I've taken over at a better time because it's been pretty good the whole 13 years I've been here."