Talented midfielder Ben White will take on the role at just 16 years of age having impressed new coach Javi Martinez in the off-season.

White is no stranger to the senior squad at Patties, having won the 2018 best and fairest as a 15-year-old.

After splitting his time between Canberra NPL outfit Wagga City Wanderers and St Pats last season, the rising star is now fully committed to his home club in the AWFA.

"Javi had a chat with me early discussing what my intentions for the year were and what his plans are for the year," White said.

"We both had the same idea on what the club needed and what our strong points were, so we want to build on it.

"I've captained a few teams and I know what you need to do to be captain. Obviously for seniors it's a big step up, but hopefully I can step for the occasion and help the boys out and do what needs to be done."

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White said there has been plenty of positivity from the playing group since the announcement.

"The boys have been supportive," he said.

"We're all one team, it's not just one player, so we're all helping and building together.

"We want to be a team where people have to come to us and really work hard to get those points."

White made 25 appearances for the Wanderers' under-16s outfit in 2019, firing in 21 goals, he also found the back of the net four times in his six under-18 matches.

"It's a bit different from AWFA obviously. A few different teams and different playing styles, but still very tough quality," White said.

Martinez revealed it wasn't necessarily planned to have a young captain.

"My role as a coach is not just about developing players and making them better senior players, it's also to develop leaders," he said.

"This is a club that looks from within very heavily, so the fact that Ben has been appointed captain is a stepping stone I guess.

"He needs to start to learn that leadership of being able to manage younger and older players for the future and obviously we want him to develop into that type of person and captain.

"I think it's important for the club, not necessarily to look to the future because we want to be relevant now, but we need to start developing so when all the older blokes go, you're not left with all these young blokes you didn't put that time and effort into."

Martinez is confident the leadership won't be a burden on White with veterans Michael Morley (back from Wodonga Diamonds), Aaron McGlynn and Andrew Stephens set to filter back into the senior lineup.