North Melbourne Football Club facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North Melbourne Football Club
Names
Full name	North Melbourne Football Club Limited
Former name(s)	Hotham Football Club (1877–1888) Kangaroos Football Club (1999–2007)
Nickname(s)	Kangaroos, Kangas, Roos, North, Shinboners
Motto	Victoria Amat Curam (Victory Demands Dedication)
2024 season
Home-and-away season	17th
Leading goalkicker	Nick Larkey (46 goals)
Syd Barker Medal	Luke Davies-Uniacke
Club details
Founded	1869; 156 years ago (1869)
Colours	Royal Blue      White
Competition	AFL: Senior men AFLW: Senior women VFL: Reserves men VFLW: Reserves women
Chairman	Sonja Hood
CEO	Jennifer Watt
Coach	AFL: Alastair Clarkson AFLW: Darren Crocker VFL: Tom Lynch VFLW: Brett Gourley
Captain(s)	AFL: Jy Simpkin AFLW: Emma Kearney VFL: Darcy Macpherson VFLW: Renee Tierney
Premierships	VFL/AFL (4) 1975 1977 1996 1999 AFLW (1) 2024 Reserves/VFL (7) 1947 1957 1967 1978 1979 1995 1996 Under-19s (7) 1946 1976 1984 1987 1988 1990 1991 VFA (6) 1903 1904 1910 1914 1915 1918 VFLW (1) 2024
Ground(s)	AFL: Marvel Stadium (56,347) Ninja Stadium (19,500) Hands Oval (15,000) Optus Stadium (61,266) AFLW/VFL/VFLW: Arden Street Oval (4,000)
Former ground(s)	MCG (1984–2005) Arden Street Oval (1966–1985) Coburg City Oval (1965) Arden Street Oval (1925–1964)
Training ground(s)	Arden Street Oval
Uniforms
Home Away Clash
Other information
Official website	[1]

The North Melbourne Football Club, often called the Kangaroos or Roos, is a professional Australian rules football club. Their men's team plays in the top-level Australian Football League (AFL), and their women's team competes in the AFL Women's (AFLW). The Kangaroos also have men's and women's reserve teams in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and VFLW.

The club started in the suburb of North Melbourne around 1869. They have been based at the Arden Street Oval since 1882. North Melbourne is one of the oldest football clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the AFL competition.

While Arden Street Oval is still their main office and training ground, and home for the women's team, the senior men's team plays home games at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. They also play some home games at Bellerive Oval in Hobart, Tasmania, which the women's team also uses.

The club's mascot is a grey kangaroo wearing the team uniform. This mascot has been used since the mid-1900s. The team is also known as "The Shinboners," a nickname from the 1800s. Some say it came from abattoir workers, while others believe it relates to an old Irish game. The club's motto is victoria amat curam, which is Latin for "victory demands dedication."

The Kangaroos have won four VFL/AFL championships: in 1975, 1977, 1996, and 1999. Their AFL Women's team won a championship in 2024.

Club History

In two aspects North Melbourne stands second to none. One is the loyalty of its supporters. The other is the determination to carry on, despite its disadvantages. In the face of adversity, which might well have broken the spirit of most men, we find that from the earliest days there were always enthusiasts to fight for North Melbourne.

Early Years and Formation

The North Melbourne Football Club was formed by 1869. There were earlier attempts to start a club as far back as 1860. One of the first recorded matches for North Melbourne was in 1869, when they defeated Surrey Football Club.

The area was first called Hotham, and the club was known as "North Melbourne Football Club" until 1876. Then, as a founding member of the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1877, they were called "Hotham." They changed back to "North Melbourne" in 1888. The club's blue and white colours, still used today, were adopted in 1876.

The club's first games were played in Royal Park. Harry Fuhrhop was an important early figure, captaining the team from 1869 to 1877. Royal Park was the club's home ground until 1882.

North Melbourne was considered a "junior club" in the early days of Australian Football, meaning they were respectable but not yet a top team. They became a senior club in 1874, finishing fourth.

In 1876, some players left to join another club, Albert Park. Despite this, North Melbourne kept going with its reserve team, Hotham United. They recruited young players from St Mary's Anglican School, who helped keep the club strong. In 1877, the club was accepted into the new, top-level VFA competition as the Hotham Football Club.

VFA Years and Success

Chart showing the progress of North Melbourne F.C. through the VFA and V/AFL

In 1877, the Victorian Football Association (VFA) was formed, which was the first official football body in Victoria. Hotham was one of the first five senior clubs to play in this new league.

In 1882, the Hotham football club moved to the North Melbourne Recreation Reserve (now Arden Street Oval). This move helped improve the ground. The club won its first VFA premiership in 1886 with its reserve team, and again in 1887.

In 1886, the club changed its uniform to blue and white vertical stripes. This was to make it look different from Geelong's uniform. On March 30, 1888, the club officially changed its name back to "North Melbourne Football Club."

The 1880s also saw the club travel to play games in Tasmania and South Australia. In 1879, four North Melbourne players were chosen to represent Victoria in the first ever intercolonial game.

Joining the VFL

"The Inaugurals". The side that brought North premiership glory after 34 years of wait. To commemorate the achievement, club President G/M Prendergast presented the 26 players and head trainer with a gold medal at the club's general meeting that year.

A VFA cigarette card from 1906

In the 1890s, the biggest VFA clubs, like Geelong and Essendon, formed their own league, the Victorian Football League (VFL). Even though North Melbourne finished well in 1896, they were not invited to join the new VFL. Some reasons for this included:

• North had not won a premiership yet.
• The area around the club was becoming more industrial, which affected their money.
• Their fans had a reputation for being rowdy.
• There were disagreements with other clubs like Collingwood and Essendon.

North Melbourne continued to play in the VFA and became a very strong team. They finished second in 1897, 1898, and 1899. In 1903, after 34 years, the club won its first premiership, beating Richmond. They won again in 1904 when Richmond did not play the Grand Final.

In 1907, North Melbourne joined with another VFA club, West Melbourne. They hoped this would help them get into the VFL. They applied in 1908, but Richmond and University were chosen instead. North was even kicked out of the VFA for trying to join the VFL. However, the local community quickly restarted the North Melbourne Football Club, and they were allowed to play in the VFA again in 1908.

"The Invincibles" Era

Syd Barker, Sr., club legend and star ruckman of "The Invincibles" era.

The club had to rebuild its team in 1908. In 1910, some famous players from Carlton joined North Melbourne, helping them win their third premiership.

The years from 1914 to 1919 were known as "The Invincibles" era. North Melbourne went undefeated during this time, winning premierships in 1914, 1915, and 1918. The competition was paused in 1916 and 1917 because of World War I. During this amazing period, the club won 58 games in a row, including 49 premiership matches, which is a record that still stands today.

North Melbourne kept trying to join the VFL. In 1921, they even considered merging with Essendon League Football Club. This plan did not work out, but North Melbourne eventually merged with Essendon Association Club to play in the 1922 season.

Joining the VFL at Last

Chart of yearly ladder positions for North Melbourne in VFL/AFL

North Melbourne and Arden St Oval after admission to the VFL. c. 1928

After many attempts and 29 years of waiting, North Melbourne was finally allowed into the VFL in 1925, along with Footscray and Hawthorn. They were considered "the lucky side" to be invited. North Melbourne had to change its uniform to avoid clashing with other teams.

For its first 25 years in the VFL, North Melbourne struggled. A highlight was Sel Murray winning the VFL Leading Goalkicker Medal in 1941 with 88 goals. By the late 1940s, North Melbourne had a strong team and many supporters. In 1949, they finished first in the home-and-away season. In 1950, they reached the Grand Final but lost to Essendon. This was the year the club adopted the "Kangaroos" mascot.

In 1965, North Melbourne briefly moved its training and playing base to Coburg Oval. This move only lasted eight months, and the club returned to Arden Street Oval in September 1965.

The 1950s and 1960s were not very successful years for North Melbourne. However, they did win two Night Premierships in 1965 and 1966. Allen Aylett and Noel Teasdale were standout players during this time.

The Golden Era of the 1970s

Malcolm Blight was one of the stars of the 1970s premiership era, and won both a Brownlow Medal and Coleman Medal while at North Melbourne.

In the late 1960s, under Allen Aylett's leadership, North Melbourne started to become a top team. They recruited several star players like Barry Davis, Doug Wade, and Barry Cable. A big change came in 1973 when the famous Ron Barassi became coach. Barassi turned the team around, leading them to a "golden era" of success.

North Melbourne played in five Grand Finals in a row from 1974 to 1978. They won their first VFL premiership in 1975, beating Hawthorn. They won again in 1977 after a replay against Collingwood. In 1975, they also defeated Norwood to become Champions of Australia.

1975 VFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Hawthorn	9	13	67
North Melbourne	19	8	122
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 110,551

Star players during this time included Keith Greig, who won two Brownlow Medals, and Malcolm Blight, who won a Brownlow Medal in 1978. Doug Wade won the Coleman Medal in 1974 for kicking 103 goals.

1977 VFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
North Melbourne	21	25	151
Collingwood	19	10	124
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 98,491

Barassi left as coach in 1980. North Melbourne then had another period of less success. However, Malcolm Blight kicked 103 goals in 1982, and Ross Glendinning won the Brownlow Medal in 1983. In 1983, North Melbourne finished first on the ladder but did not make the Grand Final.

The 1990s: A Dominant Team

1990s dual-premiership player and Norm Smith Medallist Glenn Archer was named "Shinboner of the Century" as the player who most embodies the North Melbourne spirit.

The 1980s and early 1990s were challenging for the Kangaroos. However, the club was rebuilding. The Krakouer brothers, Jim and Phil, brought excitement to the team. The club also started playing night games, which was a new idea at the time. A key player, John Longmire, joined in 1989 and was the top goalkicker for five seasons. He won the Coleman Medal in 1990 with 98 goals.

In 1993, Denis Pagan became coach. He quickly led North Melbourne back to the finals. Pagan also made young Wayne Carey the club's youngest captain. Carey became one of the best players in the league during the 1990s.

1996 AFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
North Melbourne	19	17	131
Sydney Swans	13	10	88
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 93,102

1995 AFL Ansett Australia Cup Final	G	B	Total
North Melbourne	14	9	93
Adelaide	8	15	63
Venue: Waverley Park	Crowd: 49,393

North Melbourne was a very strong team throughout the 1990s. They reached the preliminary finals or better every season from 1994 to 2000. After losing in the preliminary finals in 1994 and 1995, North defeated the Sydney Swans in the 1996 Grand Final to win their third premiership. Glenn Archer won the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground.

In 1998, the club won the pre-season Ansett Cup and finished first on the ladder. However, they lost the 1998 Grand Final to Adelaide. In 1999, the Kangaroos finished second and went on to defeat Carlton in the Grand Final, winning their fourth VFL/AFL premiership. Shannon Grant won the Norm Smith Medal.

1999 AFL Grand Final	G	B	Total
Kangaroos	19	10	124
Carlton	12	17	89
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground	Crowd: 94,228

1998 AFL Ansett Australia Cup Final	G	B	Total
North Melbourne	14	13	97
St Kilda	12	11	83
Venue: Waverley Park	Crowd: 63,898

In 1996, the club almost merged with the Fitzroy Football Club, but Fitzroy ended up merging with the Brisbane Bears instead.

To try and reach more fans across Australia, the club officially dropped "North Melbourne" from its logo in 1999 and played as "The Kangaroos." They even played home games in Sydney, but this idea was not very successful. In 2007, the club changed its name back to "North Melbourne."

The 21st Century

A Kangaroos quarter-time team huddle at the MCG in 2006

North Melbourne's strong performance did not continue into the 2000s. Key people who helped the club succeed in the 1990s left. Coach Denis Pagan moved to Carlton at the end of 2002 and was replaced by Dani Laidley.

Cult hero Sav Rocca led the goal kicking in the early 2000s.

Three-time Syd Barker Medallist Andrew Swallow captained the club in the 2010s.

In 2002, several players were affected by the Bali bombings. Defender Jason McCartney was badly injured but made an incredible return to play one more game in 2003. He kicked a goal and helped set up the winning goal, then retired, becoming an inspiring story in Australian sport. He wore numbers representing the victims of the bombings.

The club reached the elimination finals in 2002 and 2004. After a strong finish in 2007, they dropped down the ladder in 2009. Coach Dani Laidley resigned and Brad Scott took over. A big redevelopment of Arden Street Oval was finished in 2009, giving the club excellent training facilities.

The Brad Scott Era

North Melbourne struggled in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, they returned to the finals but lost. In 2012, the club started playing two games a year in Hobart, Tasmania. In 2013, Nick Dal Santo joined the club.

Brent Harvey broke the all-time AFL record for most career games in 2016, finishing with 432 games.

In 2014, North Melbourne finished sixth and reached 40,000 members for the first time. They won two finals games, reaching their first preliminary final since 2007, but lost to Sydney. In 2015, they made history by being the first team from eighth place to reach a preliminary final, but lost to West Coast.

In 2016, North Melbourne had its best start to a season ever, winning its first nine matches. They also reached over 45,000 members. However, their performance declined later in the season. In mid-2019, Brad Scott left the club after 10 years.

Recent Coaches: Rhyce Shaw and David Noble

Rhyce Shaw became the caretaker coach in 2019 and then the head coach for the 2020 season. After a tough 2020 season, Shaw left the club.

In 2021, David Noble was appointed as the new senior coach. The team finished last in 2021 and Noble resigned in mid-2022 due to the team's poor start to the season.

The Alastair Clarkson Era

On August 19, 2022, North Melbourne signed Alastair Clarkson to coach the team for five seasons, starting in 2023. Clarkson stepped away from coaching for part of the 2023 season due to personal reasons but returned later that year.

Club Identity and Symbols

North Melbourne cheer squad in 2017

Name and Mascot

The club was known as the "Shinboners" for much of its early history. This nickname is thought to come from the local abattoirs where many players worked. In 1954, club president Phonse Tobin decided to adopt the kangaroo as the club's emblem. He wanted a mascot that was proudly Australian.

The club's official name is North Melbourne. However, it has also been known as "Hotham Football Club" and "The Kangaroos" (from 1999 to 2007) to try and gain more national appeal. This decision was later reversed, and the club returned to "North Melbourne" in 2007.

Club Song

"Join in the Chorus" is the official song of the North Melbourne Football Club. It is sung after a victory and played before every match. It is believed to be the oldest club song in the AFL. The song's tune comes from a Scottish folk song, and parts of the lyrics have been changed over the years.

"Shinboner Spirit"

At clubs with bigger memberships, their supporters only touch their colours, but at North we have the Shinboner spirit. North people can touch that spirit – they are the real Shinboners, they are the club.

North Melbourne is known for its "Shinboner spirit." This refers to the club's history of fighting hard against challenges and not relying on handouts. It reflects the club's working-class roots and its determination to succeed despite being smaller and less wealthy than some other clubs.

The term "Shinboner spirit" is linked to the club's original nickname. In 2005, to celebrate 80 years in the VFL and 30 years since their first premiership, the club held a "Shinboner Spirit" event. Glenn Archer was named the "Shinboner of the Century" for best representing this spirit.

Guernsey (Uniform)

The North Melbourne Football Club has a long history of wearing royal blue and white uniforms.

• Early Years: The club first wore a hooped design. In 1884, the VFA asked them to change to vertical stripes to look different from Geelong.
• Mergers and Changes: After merging with West Melbourne in 1907, North briefly used a uniform with West Melbourne's red sash in 1908, but it was removed the next season. In the early 1920s, they tried a monogram design.
• VFL Era: When they joined the VFL in 1925, North Melbourne had to change their striped uniform again to avoid clashes. They used a "V" design for a few years before returning to their blue and white stripes in 1932, which they have used ever since.
• Modern Changes: For many years, the blue stripes were in the middle, and the back was white for numbers. From 2011 to 2016, they used an inverted version (mostly blue) as an alternate. In 2017, this became their home uniform, but in 2022, they returned to the traditional design with hooped socks. Black player numbers returned in 2023.
• Clash Guernseys: In the 1990s, the club introduced the "Bounding Roo" alternate uniform. This design featured a large kangaroo from the club's logo. It is popular with fans because it reminds them of the club's successful era in the late 1990s.

Uniform Evolution

Changes in the North Melbourne uniform through the years:

Initial years & VFA:

1874–85

1886–1907

1908

1909

1910,12,14,15

1911,13,18,21

1922–24

VFL/AFL:

1925–1932

1933–1970

1971–1974

1974–2015

2016–2021

2022–

Significant alternate uniforms:

1995–2002, 2016, 2019

Logo

North Melbourne has changed its logo seven times. Most logos feature a kangaroo jumping in front of a shield with blue and white stripes. In 2016, a new logo was introduced with a fiercer-looking kangaroo head above the words 'North Melbourne' inside a shield. This change was generally well-received by fans.

Home Grounds

Arden Street Oval was the Kangaroos' home ground from 1882 to 1985. Today, it is owned by the City of Melbourne and used by the North Melbourne Football Club for offices, training, and home games for its AFL Women's, VFL, and VFL Women's teams.

The club has played home games at Docklands Stadium since 2000. They also play some home games outside Victoria. Since 2012, the Kangaroos have played up to four home games each season at Bellerive Oval (also known as Ninja Stadium) in Hobart, Tasmania. From 2025 to at least 2028, the club will play two home games per season in Western Australia, splitting these games between Optus Stadium and Hands Oval in Bunbury.

Current Home Grounds

Docklands Stadium (Marvel Stadium) – North Melbourne's home ground

• Docklands Stadium (Marvel Stadium), Docklands, Melbourne
• Bellerive Oval (Ninja Stadium), Bellerive, Hobart
• Hands Oval (JE Hands Memorial Park), South Bunbury, Bunbury
• Perth Stadium (Optus Stadium), Burswood, Perth

Club Operations

Ownership and Management

James Brayshaw was club chairman from 2007 to 2017

The North Melbourne Football Club is a non-profit organization. Its members have voting rights to elect directors to the club's board. The board has nine members, with positions re-elected every three years. This structure helps keep the club stable and prevents big changes to its leadership all at once.

From 1986 to 2006, the club was privately owned. In 1986, members could buy shares to help the club financially. In 1991, the Carlton Football Club tried to take over North Melbourne by buying many shares, but this attempt was eventually stopped.

In 2007, a group called We Are North Melbourne (WANM) campaigned to keep the club in Melbourne and return control to its members. North Melbourne became a public company again in November 2008.

In 2016, Ben Buckley became the new chairman. In 2022, Jen Watt was appointed CEO, making North Melbourne the first AFL club with an all-female leadership team, including President Sonja Hood. The club has improved its financial health and has been debt-free since 2021.

Sponsorship

North Melbourne has had various sponsors over the years, including Courage, Budget Rent a Car, Qantas, NZI Insurance, Hewlett-Packard, Mazda, iPrimus, Vodafone, Blackwoods, Anytime Fitness, Hello Solar, and Spirit of Tasmania. Their uniform manufacturers have included Nike, Russell Athletic, Bont, Reebok, XBlades, Canterbury, and Puma.

Membership Base

North Melbourne's membership has grown over the years. In 2014, they reached over 40,000 members for the first time. In 2016, they surpassed 45,000 members. In 2023, their membership reached 51,084.

Night Football

North Melbourne was the first club to play football on Friday nights, starting in 1985. They have played more Friday night games than any other AFL club. Friday night games are now very popular for TV broadcasts.

Good Friday Football

After many years of asking, the AFL announced in 2016 that North Melbourne would play on Good Friday starting in 2017. This game, called the Good Friday Superclash, helps raise money for Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital.

Indigenous Players

North Melbourne has a strong history of supporting Aboriginal footballers. The first Indigenous player for the club was Percy Johnson in the 1950s. Other notable Indigenous players include Barry Cable and the Krakouer brothers.

The following is a list of Indigenous footballers who have played senior football for the club:

Players Lost in Wars

The following footballers who played for North Melbourne were killed during World War I and World War II.

World War I

• Peter Martin

World War II

• George Brock
• Alf Goonan
• Len Johnson
• Mo Shapir
• Len Thomas
• Beres Reilly
• Bert Peters

Rivalries

Essendon

The rivalry between North Melbourne and Essendon Football Club goes back to 1896. When the VFL was formed, North Melbourne wanted to join, but some believe Essendon did not want them in the new league. This created a long-standing rivalry.

In 1950, the two teams met in their only Grand Final so far, which Essendon won. The rivalry became strong again in the 1980s and late 1990s due to both teams' success. In 1998, North Melbourne beat Essendon in a big final game. In 2001, Essendon made the biggest comeback in VFL/AFL history against North Melbourne, winning after being 69 points behind. In 2014, North Melbourne beat Essendon in a final, continuing Essendon's long wait for a finals win.

Hawthorn

North Melbourne and Hawthorn have had a rivalry since the 1950s. It became very intense in the 1970s when both clubs were dominant. They played each other in three Grand Finals in four years. North Melbourne won their first premiership against Hawthorn in 1975. However, Hawthorn defeated North Melbourne in the 1976 and 1978 Grand Finals.

The rivalry continued in the 2000s with intense games. In 2014, there was a notable incident between Brian Lake and North Melbourne player Drew Petrie. In 2015, games between the two teams were known for being very physical.

Club Achievements

Honour Roll

• note: Season Summary reference
• note: Goal kicker reference

North Melbourne Team of the Century

In August 2001, the North Melbourne Team of the Century was announced. Wayne Carey was named captain and Denis Pagan was coach.

Shinboner of the Century

On March 18, 2005, North Melbourne celebrated its 80th anniversary in the VFL and 30th anniversary of its first premiership. Glenn Archer was voted the Shinboner of the Century for best representing the 'Shinboner Spirit'. Other players were also recognized as 'Shinboners' of their eras:

• Les Foote – Shinboner of the early era (1925–1950)
• Allen Aylett – Shinboner of the '50s
• Noel Teasdale – Shinboner of the '60s
• Malcolm Blight – Shinboner of the '70s
• Wayne Schimmelbusch – Shinboner of the '80s
• Wayne Carey – Shinboner of the modern era (1990–2005)

150th-Year Celebration

In August 2019, North Melbourne celebrated its 150th year. The celebrations included a Friday night game against Hawthorn, which the Kangaroos won. The VFL team also won their game that weekend. A special dinner was held where the 150 greatest North Melbourne players were announced. The top 10 greatest players were:

• 1 – Wayne Carey
• 2 – Keith Greig
• 3 – David Dench
• 4 – Allen Aylett
• 5 – Brent Harvey
• 6 – Malcolm Blight
• 7 – Wayne Schimmelbusch
• 8 – Les Foote
• 9 – Anthony Stevens
• 10 – Ross Glendinning

Club Achievements Summary

VFL/AFL Finishing Positions (1925–Present)

Players

Current Squad

Reserves Team

North Melbourne
Names
Full name	North Melbourne Football Club
Former name(s)	Kangaroos (1999)
2023 season
Home-and-away season	10th
Club details
Founded	1925, re-established 2018 (as a reserves side)
Competition	Victorian Football League
Coach	Tom Lynch
Captain(s)	Jack Watkins
Premierships	VFL/AFL reserves (7) 1947 1957 1967 1978 1979 1995 1996
Ground(s)	Arden Street Oval (10,000)
Training ground(s)	Arden Street
Uniforms
Home

The North Melbourne reserves team plays in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

History of the Reserves Team

North Melbourne had a reserves team in the VFL/AFL reserves competition from 1925 to 1999. During that time, they won seven premierships.

After 1999, the standalone reserves team was dissolved. For the next 18 years, North Melbourne partnered with other VFL clubs for their reserves players.

• 2000–2002: Murray Kangaroos
• 2003–2005: Port Melbourne
• 2006–2007: North Ballarat and Tasmania
• 2008–2015: North Ballarat and Werribee
• 2016–2017: Werribee

In 2018, North Melbourne started its own reserves team again. They played home games at Chirnside Park until mid-2019, and then at the improved Arden Street Oval since the second half of 2019.

Reserves Team Honours

Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal: Nick Larkey (2018)

Reserves Team Seasons

Women's Teams

AFL Women's Team

In 2017, North Melbourne applied for a license to join the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition. In September 2017, they were granted a license to join in 2019. In April 2018, they signed Emma Kearney, a star player who had won the AFL Women's best and fairest award.

The team is officially called the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos because they play games in both Victoria and Tasmania.

The team reached the Grand Final in 2023, losing to Brisbane. In 2024, the club had an amazing 12-match unbeaten streak, which is a record for the AFL Women's competition. This led to a 30-point premiership victory against Brisbane in the 2024 Grand Final. Star midfielder Jasmine Garner was named best on ground.

AFL Women's Squad

AFL Women's Season Summaries

^ Denotes the ladder was split into two conferences. Figure refers to the club's overall finishing position in the home-and-away season.

VFL Women's Team

North Melbourne started a team in the second-tier VFL Women's league in 2021.

Under coach Brett Gourley, the club won the 2024 premiership. They defeated the Western Bulldogs in the Grand Final in July 2024.

Captain Jess Jones (L) and coach Brett Gourley (R) celebrate with the 2024 VFL Women's premiership cup

.

VFL Women's Season Summaries

Sources: Club historical data and VFLW stats

Activism

Supporting Equality

The North Melbourne Football Club has supported important social causes. During the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, the club supported the "Yes" vote for same-sex marriage. They also supported the Voice to Parliament.

See also

In Spanish: North Melbourne Football Club para niños

• Sport in Australia
• Sport in Victoria
• List of North Melbourne Football Club players