North Melbourne will always be North Melbourne

It has been a tumultuous year for North Melbourne. 

David Noble has been sacked and the win-loss column sits at an abysmal 1-15, but like anything, the saying goes; 

‘It is never as bad as it seems and never as good as it seems.’ 

The Roos were not expected to achieve much on the field this year and many predicted them to finish in the bottom two, which is understandable. 

But let’s go through the foundation which can underpin the club moving forward and why the chat about relocation is hogwash. 

Membership base

Without paying members, the heartbeat of a club cannot pulsate and pump life. 

Despite the predictions of a poor season after being handed the wooden spoon in 2021, North Melbourne has still managed to sign up 48,639 members. 

The crowd numbers are obviously not going to match this because the product offered on the field this season has been deplorable, but it is a sign that there are people around the country willing to fork out cash. 

Off-field finances sorted

Any football club now must be run like a business. 

Finances and off-field executive decisions have never been more important to ensure the going concern of an Aussie Rules club. 

For the first time in 34 years, North Melbourne announced it was debt free. 

The club also managed to post a net profit for the 2021 financial year, which is a sign of continual growth for a club which has struggled for winning results in the last few years. 

Arden Street is going through redevelopment and state-of-the-art facilities will continue to be implemented around the complex to facilitate elite standards. 

People have short memories

Yes, okay, the wins have come sparingly, but North Melbourne was a genuine contender only a few years ago. 

In 2014, the Roos made it all the way to a preliminary final, only to be knocked off by Sydney. 

The club has won two flags in the AFL era, which is a feat not many have been able to achieve. 

You look at powerful clubs such as Essendon and Carlton, and they have been far worse off on the field than North has been in the last 20 years. 

The Blues have not won a flag since 1995 and have not played finals since 2013, while the Bombers have not won a final since 2004. 

Yet, there is no talk about those foundation clubs being relocated. 

It can turn around quickly 

With the right people in place, things can change at a rapid rate. 

Look at Carlton. 

In the doldrums of the AFL ladder for over eight years with no light at the end of the tunnel aside from a handful of talented players that kept the ship afloat. 

Look at Collingwood. 

Finishing down the bottom of the table in 2021 and looking the goods to play finals in 2022. 

New coaches, new executives and a new motivations for these younger players can just take things further than anyone could have realistically predicted. 

North has some talented players on its list. 

Jason Horne Francis, Nick Larkey, Luke Davies-Uniake, Jed Anderson, Jy Simpkin, Curtis Taylor, Tom Powell, Cameron Zurhaar and Ben McKay. 

The nuclease for a strong team going forward into the next decade is there. 

It just needs to surrounded by a strong football program which nurtures and gets the best out of them and the rest of the role players.