North Melbourne co-captain Jy Simpkin says he's amazed at the talent the club's newest crop of draftees possess, especially Colby McKercher.

The second overall pick from the 2023 National Draft is already having an impact at Arden Street, looking like a seasoned veteran during the side's training sessions at La Trobe Sports Park.

The midfielder out of Tasmania built his draft stock as a prolific ball-winner who was able to punish opposition with his speed and lethal left foot.

"You don't see too many first-year draftees come into the club (like he has)," Simpkin told reporters at Arden Street on Tuesday afternoon.

"You sit back and watch training and go 'holy crap'.

"He's dominating training out there so that's awesome to see."

"He's had a really strong pre-season," new backline coach Jed Adcock added.

"The way he moves and the way he's able to deliver the footy – there's probably a reason why you're drafted at pick two.

"He's one of those players, along with a Harry Sheezel, that are quite flexible and can play all over the field and there might be times where that happens.

Following a similar template to Collingwood's Nick Daicos, Sheezel was deployed by senior coach Alastair Clarkson at half-back in his debut campaign last year, which did wonders for the eventual Syd Barker medallist.

Given McKercher's style of play, he too may find himself used off the half-backline in the first chapter of his career – a strategy that has seen early individual success over recent years.

"People say half-back is the easier position to play and it's generally because the ball is in front of you all of the time, so it's easier to cut angles and see where the play is moving," Adcock said.

"At half-forward, the ball gets kicked over your head a lot, so you're having to turn around and chase back and you don't always get the benefit of having the ball in hand.

"You saw it with Nick Daicos and Sheezel and you might see it with Colby ... we'll wait and see, sometimes (when) going into the AFL it's an easier place to settle in."

The Kangaroos secured Adcock's services in October, the former Brisbane captain having looked for a fresh start following seven years as an assistant coach with the Lions.

He arrives with a clear understanding of how rapidly a club can change its fortunes; in his first two years as an assistant under Chris Fagan across 2017 and 2018, Brisbane finished in the bottom four before it surged to a 16-win season in 2019.

"(Going through that with the Lions) might have helped me get a job down here, being through it and seeing how it's done, but also understanding how quickly things can change," he said.

"In Chris' (Fagan) third year at Brisbane, Brisbane finished second on the ladder, so I'm not saying that's going to happen here but there's definitely hope and belief and that's what we're striving for, if not quicker.

"I think we all know the formula of what it takes to change. Patience but be impatient at the same time."