North Melbourne key forward Nick Larkey has agreed to a bumper five-year contract extension at Arden Street.

Larkey, who has played 84 games for the Kangaroos since debuting in 2017, is the pinnacle of North's forward structure, having kicked 36 goals across just 13 games this season despite his side's lowly position on the league ladder.

"It's an awesome feeling โ€ฆ I can't believe I'm going to be a player here for that long," he said in a club statement on Friday.

"I never would have thought my career would go this way or I'd have the chance to play at North Melbourne until I'm at least 30. So, I'm really humbled, honoured, and excited for the next five years."

Larkey is excited by the positive trajectory of the Roos, who are starting to see the fruits of their labour in the form of next-generation stars Harry Sheezel, George Wardlaw, Will Phillips, and the like.

"The past four weeks, even though we've lost, there's been genuine positives from those games with some of the younger guys stepping up and playing really good footy.

"There's a genuine belief that we're going to be alright with these players around us.โ€

Larkey, as co-captain Jy Simpkin did a short time ago, neglected free agency and committed his future to the club in the form of a five-year contract extension.

The prime forward-50 target is already just two goals shy of his 2022 total, despite having played seven fewer games thus far in 2023.

North Melbourne football boss Brady Rawlings expressed the club's immense joy at retaining Larkey's long-term services, noting the key forward is a strong leadership candidate in future years.

"Nick is a very important player for us as our number one target up forward and a member of the leadership group," Rawlings said in the statement.

"At 25 years of age, he still has a lot of great football ahead of him, and we are rapt that he will have the opportunity to deliver this at North Melbourne despite significant interest from other clubs.

"His decision to join Jy Simpkin in recommitting to the club long-term is another great show of confidence in the future of our club, and we look forward to watching him continue to establish himself as one of the best key forwards in the competition."

Larkey's Roos battle the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium this Sunday afternoon.