Midfielder Jack Watkins will lead North Melbourne's new-look VFL team this season after officially being named captain.

Brought down to the club by current AFL forward line coach Leigh Adams, Watkins has spent the last three years in blue and white.

"(I'm) definitely honoured to be named captain," Watkins told NMFC Media.

"'Jonesy' (Harry Jones) and Kade (Answerth) were skippers last year and before them it was 'Apples' (Flynn Appleby), so to be put up with those types of blokes at this level is an honour."

A qualified electrician away from the field, as well as student studying high school teaching, Watkins still managed to spend weeks over the pre-season mixing it with North Melbourne's AFL list in training sessions and match simulations.

"It's invaluable," Watkins said on his experience working alongside the AFL squad and coaching staff over the past few months.

"Because in the VFL we'll be playing with lots of those AFL guys, so getting together in pre-season and creating more of a bond is going to be important for when we run out on gameday."

Tasked with coaching Watkins and his teammates this season is Tom Lynch, who stepped into the role in July last year before being locked in permanently in October to take the reins for this year's campaign.

After getting some valuable games as coach under his belt as the 2022 season drew to a close, Lynch now looks primed to take the Kangaroos to new heights in 2023 after an impressive stretch of pre-season hitouts.

"I get along with 'Lynchy' really well," mentioned Watkins.

"Obviously last year he was our assistant coach for the first half of the year, and I got along with him like a house on fire … he can get pretty intense at times, but I like it."

While the VFL team will mostly be headlined by the AFL talent coming in and out as the year progresses, Watkins shared his excitement about the emerging youngsters that have made their way into the program for this season.

"There's definitely a few 18-to-19-year-olds that have been impressing," Watkins revealed.

"Tyler (Sellers) is one, he just launches himself at the footy and I think he'll be a really good player.

"Alex Noblett off half-back (has also impressed me). He uses the ball so well and is always calm and composed."

Watkins and North Melbourne will kick off the 2023 VFL season at 3.05pm AEDT on Saturday afternoon against Port Melbourne at Arden Street Oval.