“It’s not just me that’s left disappointed with this trend. The players and staff are particularly disheartened after meeting people who don’t take out memberships,” Arocca said.
“We want all our supporters behind us and I strongly believe that if you’re not a member, you’re not fair dinkum about this club.”
Deputy-vice captain Brady Rawlings has also weighed in, urging all North Melbourne supporters who are yet to sign up for 2010 as members, to do so urgently.
The 28-year-old veteran spoke to kangaroos.com.au after learning the club was close to ticking over the 15,000 member mark and said, “We (North Melbourne) need to surpass 30 thousand members for a third straight year. It’s time this club began to challenge the other teams with regards to membership and compete with the likes of Hawthorn, Collingwood, Carlton and Essendon.”
In 2008 North Melbourne set a new record with more than 34,000 people joining up under the ‘Blue and White Unite’ membership slogan. The Kangaroos’ fans repeated that effort in 2009 when the words ‘Stay Troo’ encouraged almost 31,000 members to pledge their allegiance to the club.
“The players are doing all the hard work on the field and the Board and administration have achieved an enormous amount with the new facility. Now it’s time for the North people to continue the tradition and reaffirm their status as being the most passionate and loyal supporters in the AFL,” Rawlings added.
“The players get a great deal of satisfaction through membership. Players like Brady are constantly asking for the updated figure and always want to know what they can do to encourage people to sign up,” Membership Manager Sandra O’Mara said.
“Traditionally North people wait until February to purchase their memberships and we are confident that the current figure will climb significantly over the next month.”
North Melbourne will play 11 home games at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne this year during what Brad Scott describes as a ‘footy friendly fixture’.
The new coach adamant the club can have a successful season saying, “We don’t use the term ‘development year’ at North. This is a young side, but it has the talent to be able to achieve great things. I sincerely hope that all North support us not only this year, but in the coming years because we are embarking on a pretty special journey and we need them to be a part of that journey.”
“There’s no doubt this club needs to take the next step with regards to membership and I think we have the capacity to get there. I have met so many passionate fans of North since joining the club and they’re among the most loyal I have ever encountered in my time in the AFL.”
Click here to view 2010 membership packages or call 1300 KANGAS
