North Melbourne has announced Jy Simpkin and Luke McDonald will serve as co-captains for the 2023 season.
The duo replace Jack Ziebell after he stood down earlier this week after six seasons and 111 games in the role, marking the first time in Kangaroos history they’ve had dual skippers.
Ziebell will remain in the leadership group alongside existing members Ben Cunnington and Nick Larkey and new addition Ben McKay.
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Round 1
Simpkin and McDonald, who were both vice-captains last year, will now lead the club into a new era under Alastair Clarkson as it looks to bounce back from consecutive 18th-place finishes.
Roos football boss Todd Viney confirmed the pair were voted in by fellow teammates and coaches for best representing the ‘Shinboner Spirit.’
“From the vote, we couldn’t split Luke and Jy in terms of the influence they’ve had on the playing group and the club as two of our key leaders,” he said
“Therefore, it was decided that for the first time in the club’s history, the club would opt for a co-captaincy leadership model.
“Luke and Jy are outstanding individuals, well-equipped for this role both from a football and a cultural sense.
“Everyone at the club has great respect for Luke and Jy. They are both equally as passionate about getting the club back to where it needs to be, developing our young talent and fostering a positive club culture.”
Father-son selection McDonald, 27, has made 141 appearances in the blue and white stripes, claiming best and fairest honours in 2020.
Meanwhile Simpkin, 24, has played 116 games for North since joining the club with Pick 12 in the 2016 draft, winning the Syd Barker Medal in the last two seasons and finishing runner-up to McDonald in 2020.
