Following the announcement of a third consecutive operating profit, chief executive Eugene Arocca said North had committed almost $15 million to football for next year and would pay up to 98 per cent of the $8.21 million salary cap.
While the club remains in the bottom quarter of the competition for football expenditure, it has significantly improved its position from the end of 2007, when it budgeted for just over $11 million and 92 per cent of the cap.
Full-time staff in the department has grown from 12 to 23, with a focus on development, sports science and medical services coinciding with the club's first year in its state-of-the-art facility at Arden Street.
"It's important from our members' and supporters' point of view that we break this perception of the poor old Roos, or that the Roos can't spend money on football," Arocca said.
"Everything from the coach to the facility to the resources we're putting into the football club are contrary to that very view.
"[If there still is] the perception that our players are not getting paid to market, it's wrong. There was the perception that we were down the bottom end in terms of what we were paying players and our football department.
"We're very confident that we're up with the market as far as all those elements are concerned."
In a pre-season that has included a high-altitude camp in Utah and the appointment of leading physiotherapist Steve Saunders as medical services director, Arocca said North had what it needed to rival its opponents.
However, with clubs spending an average of $15-16 million on football each year, and premier Collingwood breaking through $19 million, it's a matter of keeping pace.
"We still have to continue looking at new initiatives and innovations and be in a position to spend the money if we need to do so, to make sure we keep up with the leaders of the pack," Arocca said.
"What will happen inevitably is that our talent will grow, our young men will become older men [and] the salary cap will no doubt increase ... on average it's increased by $300,000 to $500,000 a year over the last three years."
Arocca said that the club could pay 100 per cent of its salary cap by 2012 or 2013, which would be a reflection of a maturing squad rather than the pressure of Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney.
He added that the recent re-signing of midfielder Andrew Swallow, who had been linked to the Giants, said far more about North than its ability to pay players.
"There's a real buzz about being at North Melbourne footy club and we want to continue to make sure it's a destination for players ... that when they get here they don't want to leave," he said.
"Being a member of this club is very unique and very special and we hope that applies to our players."
Arocca said he would be "bitterly disappointed" if the club didn't reach 30,000 members, given it already had 10,000 - an increase of almost 40 per cent on this time last year.
North's last three membership figures have been 29,254 (2010), 30,545 (2009) and 32,611 (2008).
