The Roos don't enter the league until 2019. Gowans was part of the Blues' panel under senior coach Damien Keeping in the first season of the women's league this year, helping Carlton to a fourth-place finish with three wins, three losses and a draw.

Gowans, highly rated in women's football circles, has also been the coach of Diamond Creek in the VFL women's league, taking the Creekers to the grand final, where they lost to powerhouse Darebin Falcons.

He has also coached the AFL Victoria Country youth girls team, as well as leading local club Longwarry.

North Melbourne football operations manager Laura Kane said the club was delighted to have Gowans on board, and the club was also working toward fielding a team in the VFL Women's competition for the 2019 season.

"The appointment of Scott will bring a new level of experience and expertise and allow us to be competitive upon our arrival into the women's competition, it is a really exciting time for the club and everyone involved," Kane said.

North, along with Geelong, were last month granted licenses for the first round of AFLW expansion, with the competition set to expand to 10 clubs in 2019. The Roos' bid was made jointly with Tasmania, with the club set to play some home games in the Apple Isle.

The four existing Victorian clubs - Carlton, Collingwood, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs - will need to give up between two and four players each to the expansion clubs under a player ratings points scheme revealed last week by Fairfax Media.

Gold Coast, West Coast, Richmond and St Kilda are also set to enter the competition in 2020. Hawthorn and Essendon unsuccessfully bid to enter the league, while Port Adelaide and Sydney opted not to bid.