North Melbourne Football Club is preparing to celebrate its centenary year in the Australian Football League (AFL). To celebrate this momentous milestone they’ll have a special reunion game against the Western Bulldogs. The momentous occasion will take place at Marvel Stadium. The club will celebrate its past while making a bold move to confront the challenges posed by a half-empty roster. New coach Alastair Clarkson and talent boss Brady Rawlings are intent on taking a hair shirt approach to the flightless birds’ injury-laden roster. They’re building up to next win a thousand milestone showdown.
Unfortunately for the Roos, this has made their injury toll even more drastic. With teeing superstars Luke McDonald, Luke Parker, Jack Darling, George Wardlaw all held up. Other, final thoughts, strangely managed a Zac Fisher and he won’t be playing in the game. Even with these disappointments, North Melbourne continues to push ahead with the celebration of its great history. The club will have the honour of celebrating all six of its players to reach 300 games. It will celebrate the players from its premiership sides of 1975, 1977, 1996 and 1999. Additionally, the winners of last year’s AFLW grand final will be recognized throughout the Celebrate Diversity festivities.
Clarkson’s departure from Hawthorn as coach was in many ways an accident-filled train wreck, with reverberations across the Australian sporting landscape. Now, he’s hell-bent on ensuring that the enormity of this milestone isn’t lost. His presence at Hawthorn’s centenary celebration in May underscores the depth of his appreciation for the history and tradition of AFL clubs.
“Whether it’s a significant milestone game for the club or not, we have to address that part of our footy … if we don’t, know what they (the Bulldogs) can do,” – Alastair Clarkson.
On and off the field, North Melbourne is embracing today’s difficulties. They have made a smart move for the long term by re-signing young whiz Colby McKercher. The 2023 No.2 draft pick has now signed on with the club until at least the end of 2025. He was just recently extended through the end of 2028!
Brady Rawlings expressed confidence in McKercher’s decision, stating that it reflects the player’s faith in the club’s direction.
“He’s a key part of our future and his decision to sign on for another two years speaks volumes about his belief in the direction we’re heading as a club,” – Brady Rawlings.
As North Melbourne gets into the event mode ahead of the clash, Clarkson understood just how complicated it would be to put on such a major event.
“They’re very, very difficult things to organise, to try and please everyone,” – Alastair Clarkson.
He pointed out that although these celebrations are huge and valuable, it is entirely up to people to decide how much they want to engage.
“The club has done a great job in bringing together a whole heap of people – ultimately it’s the choice of people if they want to be involved in it or not,” – Alastair Clarkson.
The new Tournament of Roses match honors the club’s 100-year historical past. It provides an opportunity for the current players to pay tribute to their predecessors as they take on one of their biggest nemesis. Nevertheless, the Roos hope to galvanise their supporters, and Josh Walker in particular, by making a statement through the adversity of injuries.
