THE THOUGHT of being North Melbourne's next captain appeals to Drew Petrie, however, he feels he is still a little way from earning it.
Coach Dean Laidley highlighted last month that Petrie has suitable qualities and has successfully re-visited his leadership since struggling with deputy vice-captaincy as a 21-year-old.
The subject has re-surfaced, encouraged by Tuesday's announcement of Petrie's new three-year deal, but he kept some distance from it.
"It is something you definitely aspire to," he said.
"Simmo (current captain Adam Simpson), we can't shake him at the moment. He's 32 and still going. He'll be the man for the job, but there's plenty of blokes.
"Brent Harvey, his experience and character and leadership ability that he's shown the footy club over his time here, I think he'd be the next candidate in front of anyone else."
Petrie's on-field leadership has shone this season, so often rallying his teammates when a game is on the line.
He played a stirring final quarter in the three-point win over the Western Bulldogs in round nine, dominated the second half against Collingwood in round 16 and lifted in the nail-biting victory over the Brisbane Lions on the weekend.
An emphatic season in a variety of roles should see him poll well in the Syd Barker Medal, the club's best and fairest award – a big turnaround from the form that fell away with his elevation to the leadership group earlier in his career.
"In your first few years of footy, you can come in and fly under the radar a bit, maybe get a couple of kicks," he said.
"Those middle stages are when you're probably still a bit immature and I probably didn't realise until the last couple of years that playing footy consistently every week is really hard.
"Now I think I've got a firm grip on things and understand what's involved each week to make sure your performances are what's required."
Petrie's development has struck a chord with chief of football Donald McDonald, who praises his commitment to every contest and challenge.
"I think especially in the last 12 months, he's grown enormously with his leadership," McDonald said.
"He was thrown into a leadership role pretty early, so obviously he was impressive when he first came in but it was maybe a tad too early. To his credit, he went away once Dean (Laidley) left him out of that leadership group ... and just really worked hard on preparing himself as well as he possibly could.
"I think the number one thing about a footballer gaining the respect of his mates, is probably all about his actions on-field. I've only been here since 2005, but Drew was ruck, forward, back.
"He just does whatever Dean's asked of him. I think when you play two or three different roles in the team, it's difficult to maintain consistency.
"He's strong on-field, the way he plays," he added. "You only [have to look at] the last 10 minutes of that game against Brisbane on the weekend where some of his spoils and his efforts in marking contests and boundary throw-ins; [he] probably put the ball over the boundary line and just helped with the presence he plays with.
"We're rapt, we just think we've got some real good, strong leaders emerging from within [and] he's one of them."
