NORTH Melbourne will become the sixth Victorian AFL club to field its own VFL team from next season.
The Kangaroos announced on Monday night they and VFL partner Werribee had mutually agreed to end their 10-season alignment after 2017, with both clubs set to field stand-alone teams in the VFL next season.
The Kangaroos will join Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs in running their own VFL team, having last fielded a reserves side in 1999, the final year of the VFL/AFL reserves competition.
North Melbourne football manager Cameron Joyce said having a stand-alone team would be a boost to the club's player development.
"This is a significant step for us as a footy club and in line with our strategic aims and objectives heading into an exciting new era," Joyce said.
"There is a lot of work to be done in order to prepare for next season but, first and foremost, we are focused on ensuring that our current alignment with Werribee ends on the highest possible note."
North CEO Carl Dilena and Werribee president Martin Carter said the clubs would continue to work together to develop talent and grow Australian football in the Wyndham region.
Werribee coach John Lamont said the Tigers could offer "wonderful opportunities" to players in 2018.
"We have a new multi-million-dollar facility and the chance to showcase football ability on the big stage in a club environment second to none," Lamont said.
AFL Victoria will work with both clubs this year to help with the transition to standalone status for next season.
Chief executive Steven Reaper said there would be positives for both clubs with the change of alignment.
"The VFL will continue to foster a number of different team models that suit the various clubs involved, from stand-alone VFL and AFL clubs to strong AFL/VFL club alignments," Reaper said.
"With the decision made early this season, both clubs now have time to prepare from both an on and off-field perspective for the upcoming 2018 season, and going stand-alone.
"Werribee will now be able to offer 23 VFL-listed senior positions each week in its side, and North Melbourne will list a number of top-up players, providing a host of up-and-coming talent in Victoria an opportunity to play VFL football."
North began its partnership with Werribee in 2008 as part of a dual alignment with fellow VFL club North Ballarat.
For the past two seasons, North has been solely aligned to Werribee, having ended its affiliation with North Ballarat after the 2015 VFL season.
North Ballarat finished 14th last season in the VFL's then 15-team competition and late last year toyed with leaving the state league to focus on its team in the Ballarat Football League.
Last December, the Roosters' board voted to continue in the VFL in 2017.
Just three months earlier, the VFL terminated former VFA club Frankston's licence after it was placed under financial administration.
Carlton (Northern Blues), Hawthorn (Box Hill Hawks), Melbourne (Casey Scorpions) and St Kilda (Sandringham) are now the only Victorian clubs with ongoing VFL alignments.
North Melbourne's VFL alignments
- 2000–02: Murray Kangaroos Football Club, a new team established in a joint venture between North and the Ovens and Murray Football League
- 2003-05: Port Melbourne
- 2006-07: North Ballarat and Tasmanian Devils
- 2008-15: North Ballarat and Werribee
- 2016-17: Werribee
