All-Australian North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroo and WBBL star, Jess Duffin, will now be adding the titles ‘mother’ and ‘coach’ to her resume.

“I’m pregnant but at the end of the day I’m still here at Arden Street,” Duffin told North Media.

“Not only as a player, but I’m doing a bit of backline coaching and working with Scott (Gowans) and the team that way.”

Though she won't be taking the field in the royal blue and white guernsey, Duffin's knowledge and experience will be vital. 

“I’m really looking forward to my new role and the new challenges,” she said.

“I find it very difficult watching and not playing, so I’m definitely going to have to get used to that.

“The girls are going to hate me on the bench and might have to kick me off of it eventually.

“I think because I want to be out there playing, and I want the team to do so well, that I’m just giving a lot of feedback, but it’ll be a good challenge for me.”

While she'll be sorely missed in defence after a stellar first season at North, Duffin is backing her teammates to stand tall. 

“North’s expectations are like any club’s; to win a premiership,” she explained.

“I think we have the team to do it. We got so close last year, and we all know what happened there, but that’s driven us this year.

“The way we’ve done our pre-season, the girls are fitter than they were last year which is a really good sign.”

New faces Ellie Gavalas, Mia King and the Roos' Irish recruits also quick to make an impression. 

“I’ve seen them at match sim and it’s really exciting,” Duffin said.

“The Irish girls (Mairead Seoighe and Aileen Gilroy) are both quite quick and bring some good skills and Ellie Gavalas is bigger bodied which really helps us out in the midfield.

“Everyone is really just looking forward to getting out there and playing Round 1 in a couple weeks.”

North's season-opener will be against Melbourne Football Club on Saturday, February 8 at 3.10pm at Casey Fields.