Jy Simpkin to be sole North Melbourne captain in 2025, Harry Sheezel and Nick Larkey his VCs

A young star has been elevated to a significant leadership position at North Melbourne who will have a solo skipper in 2025.

Veteran defender Luke McDonald has stepped away from the captaincy of North Melbourne leaving Jy Simpkin as the Kangaroos’ solo skipper in 2025.

After three seasons of sharing the captaincy with McDonald, Simpkin, 26, will take charge of an outfit bolstered by key off-season signings Caleb Daniel and Luke Parker as coach Alastair Clarkson tries to lift the perennial AFL battlers from the lower ranks of the ladder.

Simpkin is one of only two First Nations captains in the AFL in 2025.

Young stars Harry Sheezel, heading in to just this third AFL season, and Nick Larkey have been appointed co-vice captains by a player vote.

Sheezel, who won the AFL Rising Star award in 2023, was lauded for setting a “quite remarkable” standard in his short time in the club.

“The standard Harry has set since he walked into the club has been quite remarkable for his young age, and Nick continues to be a clear standout leader in our group,” North football boss Todd Viney said.

“In addition to the three key leadership positions, we are fortunate to have a group of established and emerging leaders to give us additional depth and capabilities in this area.

Jy Simpkin will be our captain this season, supported by joint vice-captains Nick Larkey and Harry Sheezel ✊

📰: https://t.co/zdaiSw55G9#Kangaspic.twitter.com/sF230nV4z5

— North Melbourne FC (@NMFCOfficial) January 21, 2025

“We have actively sought to bring experience into our club with the likes of Luke Parker, Caleb Daniel and Jack Darling and their extensive leadership experience, along with the strong leaders within the group, such as Griffin Logue, Tristan Xerri, Cam Zurhaar, Bailey Scott, Aidan Corr, Luke Davies-Uniacke and of course, Luke McDonald.

“As we’ve come to expect with Luke, he demonstrated great leadership when he decided that it was time for him to move away from the captaincy role and support the next group of leaders coming through.

“Luke has been an exceptional leader for our club. His experience has been critical for us in recent years with a relatively young group, his strong connection across the whole club has supported our ‘one club’ ethos, and I know he will continue his leadership on and off the field by supporting Jy, Harry and Nick in their roles.”

Simpkin has played 152 AFL games across eight seasons at the Kangaroos