NORTH Melbourne took another step in its “aggressive reset” on Friday night with Andrew Swallow relinquishing the captaincy after five years in charge.

The Kangaroos will determine Swallow’s replacement during the off-season, with vice-captain Jack Ziebell widely considered as favourite to get the top job at Arden St.

A three-time best and fairest winner, Swallow, 29, created history in Round 22 becoming just the fourth North Melbourne player to captain the club for 100 games, joining Wayne Carey (184 matches), Wayne Schimmelbusch (150) and Adam Simpson (110).

Swallow inherited the job in 2012 from Brent Harvey despite not being part of the Roos’ leadership group.

“My time has come to step aside, to encourage the next generation of leaders to take over and be there to support them through it,” Swallow said.

media_camera Andrew Swallow won’t captain North Melbourne in 2017. Picture: Sarah Reed

“One thing I’m really excited about is to actually see these leaders really grow and develop and I think we’re in absolutely terrific hands.

“We’ve got some guys that have really taken some great strides forward and I couldn’t be more thrilled to stand aside and really see them grow and take this football club back to where we want to be.”

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott thanked Swallow for his “exceptional leadership” since taking over from Harvey.

“You look to your captain as the leader ... really where you want your captain to stand up is on the field and particular in big games and he’s a big game player,” Scott said.

Swallow has averaged 23 possessions in finals.

“Andrew played a really significant role in the leadership of this football club, it’s a really selfless gesture to step down and look to blood the next captain and he can shepherd the next captain through the twilight of his career.”

Scott said North would take a really thorough process to appoint the next captain.

media_camera Andrew Swallow has set the standards at North Melbourne for a long period. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

In the past five years Swallow, a tackling and contested-ball winning machine, has set impeccable standards for teammates despite drawing criticism for his leadership style from those outside the club.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott flagged his intentions to transition the captaincy at the start of the year following fierce speculation Swallow would be relieved of his leadership duties.

Ziebell, 25, has long been linked to the captaincy for the way he plays and handles himself on and off the field.

Jamie Macmillan, 25, was also a highly regarded member of North’s five-man leadership group, which also included Shaun Higgins and Scott Thompson.

That group is set to undergo a major restructure, with North Melbourne players to vote on the new captain and leaders early next year.

Swallow is likely to become more of a mentor as the Roos look to rebuild for another assault on the premiership.

He is contracted until the end of 2018.