Judging by the quality of his apprenticeship, Brent Harvey seems certain to make a good fist of the North Melbourne captaincy.

The champion utility was named the Kangaroos' 39th AFL skipper on Wednesday and only their fourth since 1993, when then-coach Denis Pagan handed the job to a 21-year-old Wayne Carey.

In his 13 years at Arden St, Harvey has only played under three captains, each of whom was an alltime great of the club - Carey, Anthony Stevens and Adam Simpson.

Simpson stood down as skipper earlier this month but will play on in 2009.

Harvey, 30, assumes the top job after one of his best-ever seasons which included a fourth club best and fairest award, fourth All-Australian selection and seventh place in the Brownlow Medal.

"I don't think I need to change too much," said Harvey.

"I've been in the leadership group for six or seven years now and Simmo has been captain for the last five years and I've learnt a lot from him.

"So long as I can go forward and still improve as a player and improve as a person and improve as a leader I think it's not going to be a hugely challenging job."

And even though Carey and Stevens were both automatic selections in North Melbourne's Team of the 20th Century, Harvey said he had learnt even more about leadership from the under-stated Simpson.

"It's good to have him there and I'll bounce some ideas off him - even if he doesn't want me to," said Harvey.

Drew Petrie was named as Harvey's vice-captain, with Daniel Pratt and Brady Rawlings the deputy vice-captains.

North coach Dean Laidley said Simpson had been heavily involved in the appointment of his successor, while the opinions of all other players and fulltime football department staff were also canvassed.

"In the end, one of the biggest markers for me was that the players were very, very keen for Boomer to be their captain and Drew to be their vice-captain," said Laidley.

"I thought that was a really strong indication.

"To see what Boomer has done in his journey, perhaps four, five or six years ago and not being in this position.

"But we've seen him grow with his family and what he does with the younger guys and how he's grown inside and outside the football club.

"We thought he was the best man for the job."

In other news on Wednesday, North chief executive Eugene Arocca announced that X-Blades had replaced Reebok as the club's apparel sponsor in a three-year deal.

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