North Melbourne key forward and leadership group member Nick Larkey says the club has a different feel about it as sets out on its path to amend recent campaigns and become a premiership contender in the future.

The Kangaroos have strengthened on and off the field ahead of the 2023 season, putting themselves in a position to improve immediately.

"I know we've finished last (on the ladder) two years running now but it really does feel like something in the group has changed," Larkey told reporters.

"Everyone's sick of being on the bottom and losing, but the feel around the club, the new trajectory we're on, the new gameplan – everyone has bought in.

"All our younger players have really stepped up and look a lot more AFL-ready, so it's going to be really exciting this year."

Those younger players are spread out through North Melbourne's three lines, but being a sharpshooter himself, it's been the developing forwards that have caught his eye.

Scoring has been hard to come by in recent years for the Kangaroos, however, with more threatening options inside 50 in 2023, a dangerous forward line could truly evolve.

"It's been a really good pre-season in all aspects across the ground, but particularly up forward it's been good," Larkey revealed.

"Both Charlie Comben and Callum Coleman-Jones have been good in the air for us down there as other key options, but also some of our smaller players are stepping up.

"It's good to have Harry Sheezel down there, he looks like a really classy player, and Cam's (Zurhaar) firing again so we've got a few more players down there that can establish themselves."

North Melbourne players and coaches are currently on the club's AFL Community Camp in Bendigo and Rochester, and giving back is something Larkey flagged as a significant aspect of being an AFL athlete.

"The town (Rochester) has obviously gone through some really challenging times, so it's good to be able to come up here, help out these kids and brighten their days and do some skills," he said.

"They came down for a clinic on a day at Arden Street late last year and we really wanted to return the favour and come up.

"We did a Q&A which was really good, and you can see the excitement on their faces and it brings a heap of joy to us players, too."