Tassie Kangaroos Supporter Group

Vs 

SCG, Sunday, April 22, 3.15pm
LAST TIME: Sydney Swans 10.12 (72) d North Melbourne 9.17 (71), round 10, 2011 at Etihad Stadium

This contest looms as a terrific battle between two in-form sides. The Swans remained undefeated with a spirited 22-point victory on the road against Port Adelaide last weekend. North Melbourne was even more impressive, keeping premier Geelong at bay by 17 points. Fierce rivals who have had some intense battles in recent years, including the Swans’ one-point victory in their last clash last season and a draw at Etihad Stadium in 2008, expect another tough tussle this time around.

The Kangaroos have beaten the 2011 Premiers tonight 20.11.131 to 16.18.114

Disposals – Harvey 38, Wells 31, Swallow 30

Goals – Bastinac 4, Edwards 4, Ziebell 4, Adams 2, Hamish 2, Anthony 1, Harper 1, Thomas 1, Harvey 1.

Team Disposals – North 385 to Geelong 327

V

ANDREW Swallow has  been named North Melbourne captain after the Kangaroos ushered in a new  generation of leaders at Aegis Park on Friday.

Swallow, 24, replaces Brent Harvey, 33, North’s captain for the past  three seasons, while Jack Ziebell, 21 later this month, was announced as  a vice-captain alongside Drew Petrie.

Swallow was told of his appointment by coach Brad Scott in front of the North playing group and most of the club’s staff on North’s Aegis Park training ground.

Shortly afterwards, Swallow said he had been working on his leadership skills in recent seasons but was still a work in progress.

“I’ve had a few opportunities in my junior career but I think as I go along (my leadership) will evolve,” he said.

“I’m probably not someone who will be in people’s faces and yelling and screaming. I like to lead by the way I play, similar to the way that ‘Boomer’ (Harvey) prepares and the way he goes about his footy.

“(I’ll also be) just getting alongside the guys and getting to know them really well and making sure that they’re travelling well.”

North coach Brad Scott said Swallow’s on-field status and character had earned him the captaincy.

“Andrew has got the score on the board on-field – he has really elevated himself to the upper echelon of midfielders in the AFL now,” Scott said.

“And he really just reflects the type of person we want here at North Melbourne.”

Scott also paid tribute to Harvey’s “exceptional” reign as captain but said it was the perfect time for a leadership transition.

“Given that there are a number of players that are indeed capable and worthy of leading our club, we have decided that the opportunity to appoint a new captain while Drew and Boomer are still playing was too good to pass up,” Scott said.

Harvey was “very excited” by the prospect of mentoring Swallow and Ziebell, saying he’d always wanted to play at least one more season without the captaincy before he retired.

Harvey will remain in the leadership group with Daniel Wells.

Swallow has been the Kangaroos’ most consistent player over the past  three years, respectively finishing first, third (one vote behind joint  winners Harvey and Brady Rawlings) and first (jointly with Wells)  in the best and fairest award, the Syd Barker Medal.

But Swallow’s journey to North’s captaincy has not always been smooth.  After representing Western Australia at the 2004 NAB AFL Championships,  he was overlooked in that year’s drafts.

Picked up by North with pick No. 43 in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft, Swallow  made an impressive start to his AFL career, playing 12 games and winning  a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in his debut season, and every match  when North reached a preliminary final in 2007.

However, poor form and injury limited Swallow to just North’s opening three games in 2008.

Fortunately, his luck changed on the eve of the 2009 season. Left out of  North’s team for its round one clash with Melbourne, Liam Anthony’s  late withdrawal with injury opened the door for him.

Swallow did not let his opportunity slip, racking up 21 possessions to  be of the Kangaroos’ best against the Demons. He has not looked back  since.

Similarly, Ziebell’s path to the vice-captaincy has had its share of potholes.

After being drafted by the Kangaroos with pick No. 9 in the 2008 NAB AFL  Draft, Ziebell made a promising start to his AFL career in 2009,  slotting straight into North’s senior team and winning a NAB AFL Rising  Star nomination.

However, he broke his leg in round 12 that season and another in 2010.  These injuries limited him to 24 games in his first two seasons and,  just as significantly, hampered his efforts to improve his endurance  running.

After North’s round five loss to Richmond last season, Ziebell and  fellow midfielder Ben Cunnington were labelled “unfit for AFL level” by  Sydney Swans premiership coach Paul Roos.

In his commentary role with Fox Sports, Roos said: “They’ve been next to  useless today … maybe they should be playing in the (VFL) to get their  fitness up.”

Ziebell responded in the best possible fashion, undertaking extra  aerobic sessions throughout the year and hitting a rich vein of form in  the second half of 2011. From round 11, he had six games of 25  possessions or more, the highlight his 41-possession best-on-ground  performance against the Western Bulldogs in round 17.

Ziebell’s outstanding form reversal was recognised with a career-best  finish of sixth in North Melbourne’s best and fairest count.

A big-bodied 188cm midfielder, Ziebell is a natural ball-winner at  stoppages and a key member of North’s emerging on-ball division.

The North Melbourne Football Club welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement to commit $15M towards a $22M upgrade of Blundstone Arena.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, joined by CEO Eugene Arocca, confirmed plans for the redevelopment during a media conference in Hobart.

“We are thrilled with the decision the Federal Government has made to fund the redevelopment of Blundstone Arena. This is fantastic news for Hobart and the state of Tasmania,” Arocca said.

“North Melbourne is excited to be playing two home games a year in Hobart for the next three years and we remain committed to Tasmania for the long term.”

Arocca says the support of the Tasmanian and Federal Government will ensure the future of AFL at the stadium.

“The stadium upgrade will be beneficial to the community and economy of Hobart as well as sport in the city.”

The redeveloped Blundstone Arena will seat 20,000 people and is planned for completion in 2015.

North Melbourne is pleased to announce it has signed 1,000 new Tasmanian members for 2012.

The club has nearly 2,000 members in total from Tasmania and Chief Executive Officer Eugene Arocca says he has been overwhelmed by the support received so far.

“The state of Tasmania has already welcomed us with open arms, well before we’ve even played a home game in Hobart.

“Our membership figures are rapidly increasing every day and we’re thrilled with the large amount of Tasmanians who are getting behind us.”

North Melbourne will play two home fixtures in Hobart during 2012 against Greater Western Sydney and West Coast.

“We are extremely excited for our matches at Blundstone Arena. It’s a fantastic time for our club to bring AFL football to the south of Tassie.”

“Time is running out to reserve a seat for our matches at Bellerive so we encourage everyone to get in early before it’s too late. With seats selling fast we don’t want anyone to miss out.”

Membership packages including entry to both games in Hobart start from $80 for adults and $25 for juniors.

Click here to view membership packages
Click here to view the ‘Spirit – One and All’ membership advertisement

If there is anyone available to go into town either today or tomorrow to get their photo taken for the Mercury (of course dressed in North Melbourne gear), please contact Matt Smith at the Mercury on 62300532. They want to run a story on the water taxi use on game days. Thanks guys.

It was a moment that will be etched in history forever and a decision which reinvigorated and redefined one of the most successful clubs in the AFL.

On December 6, 2007 at a meeting of more than 2500 loyal members, newly appointed Chairman James Brayshaw received a standing ovation as he announced North Melbourne had rejected a proposal to relocate to the Gold Coast.

In perhaps the most dramatic day in the club’s history, the Kangaroos did what comes naturally – stand up and fight.

“A part of the AFL deal is that we completely hand the keys over and it’s owned and run by the AFL. There’s no North Melbourne Football Club in that,” Brayshaw said on the day.

Brayshaw went on to commit to ensuring the club would secure its long term future in Melbourne.

“No-one attached to the club is saying this is going to be an easy 12 to 18 months or five or 10 years. But having said that, I think we’ve got to change fundamentally how we go about running the footy club.”

Living up to his word, Brayshaw, the Board and new administration headed up by Eugene Arocca began to redefine the club and cement its position in the competition.

Through this new leadership, North Melbourne was returned to the members, a state-of-the-art $15 million training facility was built, funding for an oval redevelopment secured, Football Department expenditure increased from $11.7 million (2007) to $16 million (2012), net revenue went up by 60% (since 2007), Brad Scott was appointed coach and the playing list regenerated and just as significantly, new growth areas in Hobart, Ballarat and Wyndham were identified.

All of this, in just four years.

“We’re a niche, a boutique, a club that’s not Collingwood or Essendon and the sooner we realise that and cut our cloth to that and make our business tailored to that, the better we’re going to be.”

However, one big challenge still remains; club debt. But Brayshaw and his team are set to announce an exciting new campaign to reduce the amount of money the club owes in order to help it return to its former premiership glory of the late 70’s and 90’s.

www.kangaroos.com.au

The North Melbourne Football Club has recorded an operating loss of $581,352 for 2011, its first loss since 2007.

Key factors in the result include:

- Injury payments exceeding budget by $192,000

- $199,000 membership shortfall

- Increase in Football Department expenditure from $11.9 million in 2007 to $15.3 million in 2011

Chief Executive Officer Eugene Arocca said the results highlight the need for the club to increase membership numbers and initiate a debt reduction campaign.

“Member numbers need to improve and we strongly believe with the teams we currently have in place on and off the field, those figures will steadily rise. A poor start to the season and unfavourable commercial fixture had a significant negative impact on our 2011 budget in this area.

“We have started talking to members about contributing to a debt reduction program which will start next month and so far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Reducing debt has become the main focus of the club’s Board and administration. To reinforce this, it’s worth pointing out we paid more than $310,000 in interest due to our current debt level. We must start to bring that figure down immediately.

“Unfortunately we were hit very hard with injuries which had a direct impact on our bottom line to the tune of almost $200,000. Most of which were unpreventable collision type injuries or injuries carried over from the previous season.”

Arocca also pointed out two home games in Hobart each year from 2012 will give the club a significant uplift.

“Hobart is another big focus for North Melbourne and presents us with the opportunity to grow our business significantly in all areas.”

2011 financial report