North Melbourne Football Club facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Melbourne Football Club |
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| Names | ||||
| Full name | North Melbourne Football Club Limited | |||
| Former name(s) | Hotham Football Club (1877–1888) Kangaroos Football Club (1999–2007) |
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| Nickname(s) | Kangaroos, Kangas, Roos, North, Shinboners | |||
| Motto | Victoria Amat Curam (Victory Demands Dedication) |
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| 2025 season | ||||
| Home-and-away season | 16th | |||
| Leading goalkicker | Nick Larkey (41 goals) | |||
| Syd Barker Medal | Tristan Xerri & Harry Sheezel | |||
| Club details | ||||
| Founded | 1869 | |||
| Colours | Royal Blue White | |||
| Competition | AFL: Senior men AFLW: Senior women VFL: Reserves men VFLW: Reserves women |
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| Chairman | Sonja Hood | |||
| CEO | Jennifer Watt | |||
| Coach | AFL: Alastair Clarkson AFLW: Darren Crocker VFL: Tom Lynch VFLW: Brett Gourley |
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| Captain(s) | AFL: Jy Simpkin AFLW: Jasmine Garner VFL: Darcy Macpherson VFLW: Renee Tierney |
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| Premierships | VFL/AFL (4)
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| Ground(s) | AFL: Marvel Stadium (56,347) Hands Oval (15,000) Optus Stadium (61,266) AFLW/VFL/VFLW: Arden Street Oval (4,000) |
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| Former ground(s) | MCG (1984–2005) Arden Street Oval (1966–1985) Coburg City Oval (1965) Arden Street Oval (1925–1964) |
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| Training ground(s) | Arden Street Oval | |||
| Uniforms | ||||
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| Other information | ||||
| Official website | [1] | |||
The North Melbourne Football Club, often called the Kangaroos or Roos, is a professional Australian rules football team. Their men's team plays in the Australian Football League (AFL). The women's team competes in the AFL Women's (AFLW). North Melbourne also has men's and women's reserve teams in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and VFLW.
The club started around 1858 in North Melbourne. This makes it one of the oldest clubs in the competition. Since 1882, their main home has been Arden Street Oval. This is where the women's team plays and where all teams train. The men's senior team plays home games at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. They also play some games at Hands Oval in Bunbury and Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia.
The Kangaroos' mascot is a grey kangaroo in their uniform. This mascot has been used since the mid-1900s. The club also has an older nickname, "The Shinboners," from the 1800s. Their motto is "Victory Demands Dedication," which is Latin for victoria amat curam.
The Kangaroos men's team has won four VFL/AFL championships. These wins were in 1975, 1977, 1996, and 1999. The women's team has won two AFL Women's championships. They achieved these victories in 2024 and 2025.
Contents
Discovering the Kangaroos' Past: A Journey Through Time
How the Club Began
The North Melbourne Football Club started around 1869. Some records suggest it might have begun even earlier, in 1860. However, 1869 is the official founding year. The area was first called North Melbourne, then Hotham, before returning to North Melbourne in 1887. The club used the name "North Melbourne Football Club" until 1876.
In 1877, the club became a founding member of the Victorian Football Association (VFA). At this time, it was known as the Hotham Football Club. They changed back to North Melbourne in 1888. Early matches were played against teams like South Yarra and Surrey Football Club. Important figures like Harry Fuhrhop helped lead the team in these early years.
Joining the Senior Ranks
Australian Football matches became regular in Victoria in 1870. North Melbourne was initially a "junior club," meaning they were still developing. By 1874, they moved up to the senior level. This was a big step for the club. They also adopted their first uniform of blue and white stripes.
In 1876, the club faced a challenge when some players left. Despite this, they kept going with their reserve team, Hotham United. They recruited young players from St Mary's Anglican School. This connection led them to adopt St Mary's blue and white colours, which are still their colours today. In 1877, their hard work paid off. They were accepted into the VFA as the Hotham Football Club. Their home ground was Royal Park until 1882, when they moved to Arden Street Oval.
Association Years and New Uniforms
In 1877, the Victorian Football Association (VFA) was formed. This was the first official football body in Victoria. Hotham was one of the first senior clubs to join. In 1882, the Hotham football club moved to the North Melbourne Recreation Reserve, now known as Arden Street Oval. This move helped improve their facilities.
In 1886, the VFA asked the club to change its uniform. They wanted a clear difference between Hotham's and Geelong's jerseys. So, the club adopted blue and white vertical stripes. On March 30, 1888, the club officially changed its name back to "North Melbourne Football Club." This happened after the local area also returned to the name North Melbourne. The 1880s also saw the club travel to Tasmania and South Australia for games.
Joining the VFL: A Long Journey
In 1896, some of the biggest VFA clubs created a new league, the Victorian Football League (VFL). North Melbourne wanted to join but was not invited. Some reasons included not having won a premiership yet and concerns about fan behaviour. Also, a nearby club, Essendon, felt threatened by North Melbourne.
North Melbourne continued to play in the VFA. They became a very strong team, finishing second in 1897, 1898, and 1899. In 1903, after 34 years, they won their first premiership by beating Richmond. They won again in 1904 when Richmond forfeited the Grand Final.
In 1907, North Melbourne merged with the West Melbourne club. They hoped this would help them join the VFL. However, Richmond and University were chosen instead in 1908. North was even removed from the VFA for trying to join the VFL. But the community quickly reformed the club, and they were back in the VFA in 1908.
The "Invincibles" Era
After reforming, the club rebuilt its team. In 1910, some famous players from Carlton joined North Melbourne. This helped them win their third premiership in 1910. The 1912 finals were exciting, with North and Brunswick drawing twice. North eventually won the semi-final but lost the Grand Final by just four points.
The years from 1914 to 1919 were known as "The Invincibles" era. The club went undefeated during this time, winning premierships in 1914, 1915, and 1918. The competition paused in 1916 and 1917 due to World War I. They won 58 games in a row, including 49 premiership matches. This is a record that still stands today!
North Melbourne kept trying to join the VFL. In 1921, they almost merged with Essendon League Football Club. This plan failed due to legal challenges. Eventually, North merged with Essendon Association Club to play in the 1922 season.
Finally in the VFL
After many attempts and 29 years of waiting, North Melbourne finally joined the VFL in 1925. Footscray and Hawthorn also joined at the same time. North Melbourne had to change its uniform to avoid clashing with other teams.
The club struggled for its first 25 years in the VFL. A highlight was Sel Murray winning the VFL Leading Goalkicker Medal in 1941. By the late 1940s, North Melbourne had a strong team. In 1949, they finished first in the home-and-away season. In 1950, they reached the Grand Final but lost to Essendon. This was also the year the club adopted the "Kangaroos" mascot.
In 1965, North Melbourne briefly moved its training to Coburg Oval. However, they returned to Arden Street Oval after only eight months. The 1950s and 1960s were tough years for the team. But they did win two Night Premierships in 1965 and 1966. Great players like Allen Aylett and Noel Teasdale played during this time.
A Golden Era of Success
In the late 1960s, North Melbourne started to become a top team. They recruited many star players like Barry Davis and Doug Wade. In 1973, the famous coach Ron Barassi joined the club. Barassi turned the team around, leading them to a golden era of success.
North Melbourne reached five Grand Finals in a row from 1974 to 1978. They won their first VFL premiership in 1975. They won again in 1977 after a replay. In 1975, they also became 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 like Keith Greig and Malcolm Blight won the prestigious Brownlow Medal during this time. Doug Wade also won the Coleman Medal for kicking the most goals in 1974.
| 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 then had a period of decline. However, Malcolm Blight kicked 103 goals in 1982. Ross Glendinning won another Brownlow Medal in 1983.
The Dominant 1990s Team
The 1980s and early 1990s were challenging for the Kangaroos. However, the club was rebuilding. Players like the Krakouer brothers, Jim and Phil, brought excitement to the team. The club also pioneered playing night games. A key player, John Longmire, joined in 1989 and was the top goalkicker for five seasons.
In 1993, Denis Pagan became the new coach. He appointed young Wayne Carey as the club's youngest captain. Carey became one of the best players in the league.
| 1996 AFL Grand Final | G | B | Total |
| North Melbourne |
19 | 17 | 131 |
 Sydney Swans |
13 | 10 | 88 |
| Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground | Crowd: 93,102 | ||
North Melbourne became a powerhouse in the 1990s. They consistently finished in the top four from 1994 to 2000. In 1996, they defeated the Sydney Swans to win their third premiership. Glenn Archer won the Norm Smith Medal as the best player in that game.
| 1995 AFL Ansett Australia Cup Final | G | B | Total |
| North Melbourne |
14 | 9 | 93 |
 Adelaide |
8 | 15 | 63 |
| Venue: Waverley Park | Crowd: 49,393 | ||
In 1998, they 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 defeated Carlton to win their fourth VFL/AFL premiership. Shannon Grant was awarded 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. However, Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears instead. From 1999 to 2007, the club was known simply as "The Kangaroos" to try and gain more national appeal. This name change was later reversed.
The 21st Century: Challenges and Resilience
North Melbourne's strong performance did not continue into the 2000s. Coach Denis Pagan left in 2002 and was replaced by Dani Laidley.
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In 2002, several players were affected by a terrorist attack in Bali. Defender Jason McCartney was severely injured. In an inspiring return, McCartney played one final game in 2003. He kicked a goal and helped set up the winning goal. He retired right after the game, celebrated by fans.
The club reached the elimination finals in 2002 and 2004. After a strong season in 2007, they made it to a preliminary final. In 2009, Dani Laidley resigned as coach. Brad Scott took over. A major redevelopment of Arden Street Oval was completed in 2009, giving the club excellent training facilities.
Recent Years: Building for the Future
Under Brad Scott, North Melbourne returned to the finals in 2012. They also began playing some home games in Hobart, Tasmania. In 2014, North Melbourne reached 40,000 members for the first time. They made it to the preliminary finals in both 2014 and 2015. In 2016, the club had its best start to a season ever, winning its first nine matches. Brad Scott left the club in 2019.
Rhyce Shaw became coach for a short time in 2019 and 2020. Then, David Noble took over in 2021. Noble resigned in mid-2022.
On August 19, 2022, North Melbourne signed Alastair Clarkson as coach for five seasons. Clarkson took a break from coaching for part of the 2023 season for mental health reasons. He returned to lead the team later that year.
Club Symbols and Identity
Club Name and Mascot
For much of its early history, the club was known as the "Shinboners." 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 mascot. He wanted a symbol that represented Australia and could be shown with pride.
The club's official name is North Melbourne. However, it has used other names over the years. It was "North Melbourne cum Albert Park" briefly in 1876 and "Hotham Football Club" from 1877 to 1888. From 1999 to 2007, the club was known as "The Kangaroos." This was an effort to appeal to a wider audience. In 2007, the club returned to its original name, "North Melbourne."
The Club Song: "Join in the Chorus"
"Join in the Chorus" is the official song of the North Melbourne Football Club. It is sung to the tune of an old Scottish folk song. The team sings it after a victory and it is played before every match.
This song is believed to be the oldest club anthem in the AFL. It has been linked to North Melbourne since its early VFA days. Parts of the song come from a musical from the 1890s. The chorus was taken from a song by Scottish musician Harry Lauder.
The "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 proud of its history as a hardworking club. It has always been one of the smaller clubs. It relies on the teamwork and determination of its players and members to succeed.
The 'Shinboner spirit' means fighting against challenges and not expecting special treatment. Fans believe this spirit shows the club's strong character. This term is still used today, even though the official nickname changed to the Kangaroos. In 2005, Glenn Archer was named the "Shinboner of the Century." This award recognized him as the player who best showed this special club spirit.
Team Uniforms: Blue and White Through the Years
The North Melbourne Football Club has a long history of wearing royal blue and white uniforms. In their earliest years, the club wore a hooped design. In 1884, the VFA asked them to change to vertical stripes. This was to make their uniform different from Geelong's.
After a merger in 1908, North briefly used a uniform with a red sash. This was a small gesture to the merged club, and the sash was removed the next season. In the early 1920s, they tried a monogram design.
When they joined the VFL in 1925, North Melbourne had to change their striped uniform. It was too similar to other clubs. They used a "V" design for several years. Since 1932, they have continuously used their blue and white striped uniform.
For many years, the blue stripes were in the middle, with a blue collar and black numbers. In 2017, an inverted blue uniform became the home jumper. However, in 2022, the traditional striped uniform returned.
In the 1990s, North Melbourne introduced an alternate uniform called the 'Bounding Roo'. This design featured a large kangaroo on the chest. It became popular during the club's successful era in the late 1990s. This uniform was used to celebrate the club's third premiership in 2016 and its 150th anniversary in 2019.
Uniform Evolution
Changes in the North Melbourne uniform through the years:
Initial years & VFA:
     1874–85
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 1886–1907
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  1908
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 1909
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 1910,12,14,15
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 1911,13,18,21
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 1922–24
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VFL/AFL:
 1925–1932
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 1933–1970
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1971–1974
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1974–2015
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 2016–2021
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2022–
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Significant alternate uniforms:
 1995–2002, 2016, 2019
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Club Logo Evolution
North Melbourne has changed its logo seven times. Five of these logos featured a kangaroo jumping behind a shield with blue and white stripes. In 2016, a new logo was introduced. It showed a fiercer-looking kangaroo head above the words 'North Melbourne' inside a shield. This new logo was well-received by fans. The kangaroo looks to the right, symbolizing looking towards the future.
Home Grounds and Playing Venues
Arden Street Oval was the Kangaroos' home ground from 1882 to 1985. Today, it serves as the club's headquarters. It provides training facilities and is the home ground for the AFL Women's, VFL, and VFL Women's teams.
Since 2000, the club has played home games at Docklands Stadium (Marvel Stadium). They also play some home games outside Victoria. From 2012 to 2025, the Kangaroos played games at Bellerive Oval in Hobart, Tasmania. Starting in 2025, the club will play two home games each season in Western Australia. These games will be at Optus Stadium and Hands Oval in Bunbury.
Current Home Grounds
- Docklands Stadium (Marvel Stadium), Docklands, Melbourne
- Hands Oval (JE Hands Memorial Park), South Bunbury, Bunbury
- Perth Stadium (Optus Stadium), Burswood, Perth
| Homegrounds | Years |
|---|---|
| Royal Park | 1869–1875 |
| Albert Park | 1876 |
| Royal Park | 1877–1882 |
| Arden Street Oval | 1882–1964 |
| Coburg City Oval | 1965 |
| Arden Street Oval | 1966–1985 |
| MCG | 1985–2005 |
| Manuka Oval | 1998, 2001-2006 |
| Sydney Cricket Ground | 1999-2002 |
| Docklands Stadium | 2002–present |
| Carrara Stadium | 2007-2008 |
| Ninja Stadium | 2012–2025 |
| Hands Oval | 2025–present |
| Optus Stadium | 2025–present |
Club Operations and Community Focus
Club Leadership
The North Melbourne Football Club is a non-profit organization. Members of the club have voting rights to elect directors to the club's board. The board has nine members, each serving a three-year term. This structure helps keep the club stable.
In 2022, North Melbourne made history by appointing Jennifer Watt as CEO and Sonja Hood as president. This was the first all-female leadership team in the AFL. The club has become financially stable, being debt-free since 2021. They have also posted several consecutive surpluses. In 2022, the Arden Fund was created to help the club's long-term financial health.
Night Football Innovation
In 1985, North Melbourne started playing football on Friday nights. This was a new idea for the sport. Since then, North Melbourne has played more Friday night games than any other AFL club. These games became very popular for television broadcasts.
Good Friday Football for Charity
North Melbourne campaigned for many years to play a game on Good Friday. In 2016, the AFL announced that North Melbourne would play the Western Bulldogs on Good Friday in 2017. This game is now known as the Good Friday Superclash. The club announced that money from ticket sales would go to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. This shows the club's commitment to community support.
Supporting 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 popular 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:
- Chris Gomez † (1925)
- Alf Egan † (1934–35)
- Percy Johnson (1951–1955)
- Bert Johnson (1965–1968)
- Alan Bloomfield (1970–71)
- Barry Cable (1970, 1974–1977)
- Craig Holden † (1982–1983)
- Jim Krakouer (1982–1989)
- Phil Krakouer (1982–1989)
- Derek Kickett (1989)
- Andrew L. Krakouer (1989–1990)
- Adrian McAdam (1993–1995)
- Warren Campbell (1994–1995)
- Winston Abraham (1998–2001)
- Byron Pickett (1997–2002)
- Gary Dhurrkay (1999–2000)
- Shannon Motlop (1999–2003)
- Daniel Motlop (2001–2005)
- Daniel Wells (2003–2016)
- Eddie Sansbury (2004–2008)
- Djaran Whyman (2007)
- Matt Campbell (2007–2012)
- Lindsay Thomas (2007–2017)
- Cruize Garlett (2009–2012)
- Jed Anderson (2016–2022)
- Jy Simpkin (2017–present)
- Paul Ahern (2018–2020)
- Tarryn Thomas (2019–2023)
- Kyron Hayden (2019–2022)
- Phoenix Spicer (2021–2023)
- Jason Horne-Francis (2022)
- Robert Hansen Jr. (2023)
†: Aboriginality uncertain
Honoring Fallen Players
The following footballers played for North Melbourne and were killed in action during the World Wars:
World War I
World War II
- George Brock
- Alf Goonan
- Len Johnson
- Mo Shapir
- Len Thomas
- Beres Reilly
- Bert Peters
Exciting Rivalries
North Melbourne vs. Essendon
The rivalry between North Melbourne and Essendon dates back to 1896. Essendon was one of the clubs that formed the new VFL, and North Melbourne was not invited at first. This created some tension between the two clubs.
In 1950, they met in their first and only Grand Final, which Essendon won. The rivalry became strong again in the 1980s and late 1990s. A famous moment was in 1998 when Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy called North executives "soft." North Melbourne won the game that followed, and fans playfully threw marshmallows at Sheedy. This led to a fun "Marshmallow Game" tradition. In 2001, Essendon made the biggest comeback in VFL/AFL history against North Melbourne, winning after being 69 points behind.
North Melbourne vs. Hawthorn
North Melbourne and Hawthorn have a rivalry that started in the 1950s. It grew stronger in the 1970s when both clubs became very successful. They played against each other in three Grand Finals in four years. North Melbourne won their first premiership against Hawthorn in 1975. However, Hawthorn won the Grand Finals in 1976 and 1978.
The rivalry continued into the 1990s and 21st century. In 2014, there was a memorable incident involving Brian Lake and North Melbourne forward Drew Petrie. In 2015, games between the two teams often featured intense moments and clashes.
Club Achievements and Legends
Club Honour Roll
| Premierships | |||
| Competition | Level | Wins | Years won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Football League | Men's seniors | 4 | 1975, 1977, 1996, 1999 |
| Men's reserves (1919–1999) | 7 | 1947, 1957, 1967, 1978, 1979, 1995, 1996 | |
| Men's under-19s (1946–1991) | 7 | 1946, 1976, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991 | |
| AFL Women's | Women's seniors | 2 | 2024, 2025 |
| Victorian Football Association | Seniors (1877–1924) | 6 | 1903, 1904, 1910, 1914, 1915, 1918 |
| Second-twenty | 2 | 1886, 1887 | |
| VFL Women's | Women's reserves | 2 | 2024, 2025 |
| Other titles and honours | |||
| McClelland Trophy | Seniors | 4 | 1976, 1978, 1983, 1998 |
| Championship of Australia | Seniors | 1 | 1975 |
| VFL Night Series | Seniors | 2 | 1965, 1966 |
| AFC Night Series | Seniors | 1 | 1980 |
| AFL pre-season competition | Seniors | 2 | 1995, 1998 |
| Finishing positions | |||
| Australian Football League | Minor premiership | 4 | 1949, 1978, 1983, 1998 |
| Grand Finalist | 5 | 1950, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1998 | |
| Wooden spoons | 15 | 1926, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1940, 1956, 1961, 1968, 1970, 1972, 2021, 2022 | |
| AFL Women's | Minor premiership | 2 | 2024, 2025 |
| Grand Finalist | 1 | 2023 | |
| Wooden spoons | 0 | Nil | |
North Melbourne Team of the Century
In August 2001, the North Melbourne Team of the Century was announced. This team honored the best players from the club's history. Wayne Carey was named captain, and Denis Pagan was named coach.
| B: | Glenn Archer | David Dench | Mick Martyn |
| HB: | John Rantall | Ross Glendinning | Ted Jarrard |
| C: | Keith Greig | Les Foote | Laurie Dwyer |
| HF: | Malcolm Blight | Wayne Carey (c) | Wayne Schimmelbusch |
| F: | John Dugdale | Jock Spencer | Allen Aylett |
| Foll: | Noel Teasdale | Anthony Stevens | Barry Cable |
| Int: | Brent Crosswell | Barry Davis | Peter Steward |
| Sam Kekovich | Jim Krakouer | Brent Harvey | |
| Coach: | Denis Pagan | ||
Shinboner of the Century
In 2005, North Melbourne celebrated its 80th anniversary in the VFL. They also marked 30 years since their first VFL premiership. At a special event, Glenn Archer was voted the Shinboner of the Century. This award recognized him as the player who best showed the club's special 'Shinboner Spirit'. Other players were also honored 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 thrilling Friday night game where the Kangaroos came from behind to beat Hawthorn. The VFL team also had a comeback win the next day. The weekend ended with a special dinner. At this event, the top 10 greatest North Melbourne players were announced:
- 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
Players
Current Squad
| Senior list | Rookie list | Coaching staff | |||||||
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Head coach
Assistant coaches
Updated: 30 November 2025 |
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Reserves Team
| North Melbourne | ||
|---|---|---|
| Names | ||
| Full name | North Melbourne Football Club | |
| Former name(s) | Kangaroos (1999) | |
| 2025 season | ||
| Home-and-away season | 15th | |
| Club details | ||
| Founded | 1925, re-established 2018 (as a reserves side) | |
| Competition | Victorian Football League | |
| Coach | Tom Lynch | |
| Captain(s) | Darcy Macpherson | |
| Premierships | VFL/AFL reserves (7)
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| Ground(s) | Arden Street Oval (10,000) | |
| Training ground(s) | Arden Street | |
| Uniforms | ||
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The North Melbourne reserves are the club's reserve team. They play in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Reserves Team History
North Melbourne competed in the VFL/AFL reserves from 1925 to 1999. During this time, the team won seven premierships. These wins were in 1947, 1957, 1967, 1978, 1979, 1995, and 1996.
After 1999, the standalone reserves team was dissolved. For many years, the club partnered with other VFL clubs for its reserves players. In 2018, North Melbourne re-established its own reserves team. They now play their home games at the redeveloped Arden Street Oval.
Reserves Team Honours
Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal: Nick Larkey (2018)
Reserves Team Seasons
| Premiers | Grand Finalist | Minor premiers | Finals appearance | Wildcard Round appearance | Wooden spoon | League leading goalkicker | League best and fairest |
| Year | League | Finish | W | L | D | Coach | Captain | Best and fairest | Leading goalkicker | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | VFL | 10th | 8 | 10 | 0 | David Loader | Michael Close | Nick Rippon | Nick Larkey (41) | |
| 2019 | VFL | 13th | 5 | 13 | 0 | Brendan Whitecross | Tom Campbell | Lachlan Hosie (20) | ||
| 2020 | VFL | (No season) | (No season) | |||||||
| 2021 | VFL | 15th | 4 | 6 | 0 | Leigh Adams | Flynn Appleby | Harry Jones | Ben Speight (12) | |
| 2022 | VFL | 18th | 4 | 14 | 0 | Harry Jones | Dom Tyson | Mat Walker (23) | ||
| 2023 | VFL | 10th | 10 | 8 | 0 | Tom Lynch | Jack Watkins | Jack Watkins | Sam Lowson (34) | |
| 2024 | VFL | 15th | 8 | 10 | 0 | Jack Watkins (2) | Tyler Sellers (30) | |||
| 2025 | VFL | 15th | 7 | 10 | 1 | Darcy Macpherson | Darcy Macpherson | Finnbar Maley (21) |
Women's Teams
AFL Women's Team: North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos
| North Melbourne Women's | |
|---|---|
| Names | |
| Full name | North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos |
| 2025 season | |
| Home-and-away season | 1st |
| Club details | |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Competition | AFL Women's |
| Coach | Darren Crocker |
| Captain(s) | Jasmine Garner |
| Premierships | AFL Women's (2)
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| Ground(s) | Arden Street Oval (10,000) |
| Training ground(s) | Arden Street |
The North Melbourne Women's team plays in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition.
In 2017, North Melbourne was granted a license to join the AFLW competition starting in 2019. They signed star player Emma Kearney from the Western Bulldogs. The team is officially known as the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos. This name reflects their games played in both Victoria and Tasmania.
The team reached the Grand Final in 2023, where they narrowly lost to Brisbane. In 2024, the club achieved an amazing 12-match unbeaten streak. This led to a 30-point premiership victory against Brisbane. Star midfielder Jasmine Garner was named the best player in the Grand Final.
| 2024 AFL Women's Grand Final | G | B | Total |
| North Melbourne |
6 | 3 | 39 |
| Brisbane | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Venue: Ikon Park | Crowd: 12,122 | ||
In the 2025 Grand Final, the Kangaroos defeated Brisbane by 40 points. This win gave them back-to-back premierships. They also set an AFL/AFLW record with 27 straight wins.
| 2025 AFL Women's Grand Final | G | B | Total |
| North Melbourne |
9 | 2 | 56 |
| Brisbane | 2 | 4 | 16 |
| Venue: Ikon Park | Crowd: 12,741 | ||
AFL Women's Squad
| Senior list | Rookie list | Coaching staff | |||||||
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Head coach
Assistant coaches
Updated: 30 November 2025 |
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AFL Women's Season Summaries
| North Melbourne AFLW Honour Roll | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Ladder | W–L–D | Finals | Coach | Captain(s) | Best and fairest | Leading goalkicker | |
| 2019 | 3rd ^ | 5–2–0 | DNQ | Scott Gowans | Emma Kearney | Jenna Bruton | Emma King (8) | |
| 2020 | 2nd ^ | 5–1–0 | Semi-finalists | Jasmine Garner | Kaitlyn Ashmore (9) | |||
| 2021 | 6th | 6–3–0 | Elimination finalists | Darren Crocker | Jasmine Garner (2) | Sophie Abbatangelo & Jasmine Garner (9) | ||
| 2022 (S6) | 4th | 7–3–0 | Ash Riddell | Jasmine Garner (2) (10) | ||||
| 2022 (S7) | 8th | 6–3–1 | Preliminary finalists | Jasmine Garner (3) | Tahlia Randall (12) | |||
| 2023 | 3rd | 7–3–0 | Runners-up | Jasmine Garner (4) | Tahlia Randall (2) (21) | |||
| 2024 | 1st | 10–0–1 | Premiers | Jasmine Garner (5) | Alice O'Loughlin (19) | |||
| 2025 | 1st | 12–0–0 | Premiers | Jasmine Garner | TBC | Blaithin Bogue (25) | ||
^ 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 its own team in the second-tier VFL Women's league in 2021. Before this, they had partnered with Melbourne University.
Under coach Brett Gourley, the club won the 2024 premiership. They defeated the Western Bulldogs in the Grand Final. The team was renamed North Melbourne Werribee for the 2025 season. This was due to a new partnership with the Werribee Football Club. The side won a second premiership in a row, beating Collingwood in the Grand Final.
VFL Women's Season Summaries
| North Melbourne VFLW Honour Roll | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Final position | Coach | Captain | Best and fairest | Leading goal kicker | |||
| 2021 | 10th | Cheyne Webster | Nikki Wallace | Meagan Kiely | Brooke Brown (8) | |||
| 2022 | 7th | Steph Binder | Molly Eastman | Liz McGrath | Sarah Skinner (12) | |||
| 2023 | 9th | Steph Binder | Jess Jones | Audrey Rhodes | Emily Paterno (9) | |||
| 2024 | Premiers | Brett Gourley | Jess Jones/Sarah King | Maddie Di Cosmo | Nyakoat Dojiok (22) | |||
| 2025 | Premiers | Brett Gourley | Renee Tierney | TBC | Nyakoat Dojiok (37) | |||
Sources: Club historical data and VFLW stats
Club Values and Community Impact
Supporting Important Causes
During the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, North Melbourne Football Club supported the "Yes" vote. The club also supported the Voice to Parliament.
Leading the Way: No Poker Machines
In 2008, North Melbourne became the first Victorian AFL club to stop owning poker machines. The club stated that it did not want to make money from people's losses.
Commitment to Sustainability
In October 2025, North Melbourne became the first sports club in Australia to receive a B Corp certification. This award recognizes the club's positive impact on social and environmental performance. It also highlights their commitment to being open and responsible.
See also
In Spanish: North Melbourne Football Club para niños
- Sport in Australia
- Sport in Victoria
- List of North Melbourne Football Club players
