Spend just a few minutes with Max Stone and you'll appreciate his quick wit, dry sense of humour and most of all his love for North Melbourne.

After 42 years with North, the 78-year-old has called time on a brilliant career after serving a multitude of roles, from being a recruiter to working as the club's doorman.

Stone charmed the Roos' playing group and staff on Thursday, when the club gathered to acknowledge his dedication and hard work at a special farewell morning tea.

He began his association as a recruiter from 1972, before assuming the roles of coin toss assistant, banner assistant and match day doorman.

"I did 20 years in recruiting and 22 years as the doorman, looking after the players and keeping the goodies in and kicking some out," Stone told NMFC.com.au.

It's perhaps during Stone's time guarding the rooms where he encountered the most eccentric characters, including one moment about 15 years ago that left him in shock.

"One time at the MCG, these three blokes came in and I thought, 'Jeez, three blokes'," he said.

"But one of them, you wouldn't believe, was a girl dressed up in men's clothing to get into the rooms with the other two people."

Stone was left bemused when, on another occasion, a man posed as a brother of a North player in the hope of gaining access into the rooms.

When Stone asked the man what his brother's name was, he received a rather strange response that raised immediate suspicion.

"He said, '(I) can't remember it now, we haven't been home for 25 years'," Stone said with a laugh.

Stone also helped take the banner out onto the field and held it up for the players to run through.

His responsibilities over the journey didn't end there; he escorted the lucky fan that'd been selected to toss the coin at North's home games on and off the ground.

In true Stone fashion, he made sure he was well prepared.

"One thing made me chuckle a bit. Some of them when they came out to toss the coin had no bloody coin to toss, so I used to provide the coin," he said.

Stone's wife of 56 years, Maureen, nodded in agreement.

"You never got it back," she said with a laugh.

"They kept that as a souvenir," Max replied.

Keeping a spare coin or two in his pocket became a regular feature of Stone's pre-game routine but it made him quickly change his ways.

"I used to have 50 cent coins and I thought, 'No, no, bugger this', so it went down to 20 cents because they were disappearing," he said.

The long-serving Roos man, who also happens to be a proud Order of Australia Medal recipient, scoured local and country matches during his time as a recruiter for the club's under-19 side.

Stone's big find was a 16-year-old Tony Liberatore at Brunswick City.

Liberatore, who played under-19s and reserve grade football with the Roos before going on to win the 1990 Brownlow Medal at Footscray, remains among Stone's highlights.

"Probably that I've recruited players who have won a Brownlow Medal," he said.

"Liberatore was one, Peter German was another – he didn't win a Brownlow but was in the mix of good players."

For the past 30 years, Stone has also sat on the Essendon District Football League's independent Tribunal and his involvement in the local competition continues to this day.

Stone was quick to turn his attention to Fremantle midfielder Nat Fyfe after the Docker escaped suspension for his front-on contact with Roo Ben Jacobs last weekend.

"There's one thing that's sticking in my mind," he said, pointing to his head.

"I don't understand how they let Fyfe off and if he wins the Brownlow Medal I'll be the darkest bloke in Melbourne.

"Being a Tribunal person and sitting as chairman of the Tribunal, I've seen blokes come in with that report and they would get three to four weeks. None of this stuff that goes on now."

Stone has seen a large amount of players walk through the North change rooms over the years, but there's no denying who he admired.

"I've got to say, (Wayne) Carey was the best player I've ever seen at North Melbourne by far, and then (Glenn) Archer and 'Stevo' (Anthony Stevens) were the funniest buggers – they were funny blokes but they were top people," Stone said.

He named current-day Roos Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey, Andrew Swallow, Todd Goldstein and Michael Firrito among his favourite players.

Petrie said Stone would remain part of the fabric of the Roos.

"Max has been one of the best servants this club has seen," Petrie said.

"Max was the doorman when I started and one of the first people I met at North. He'd greet you with a handshake, a smile and a 'g'day', and there was always a good story after that.

"His commitment could never be questioned and he's the sort of bloke that'd do anything for the place."

Stone said he'd enjoyed every moment at Arden Street and was now looking forward to sitting with his wife in the grandstand to watch their beloved team.

"It's been a fantastic journey, it really has, because people always had time to say hello to you," he said, his voice softening slightly as tears began to fill his eyes.

"They [the players] were always friendly and, I've got to say, they always spoke to my family the way they should."

The pair said they were blessed to have their son Mark, daughter Donna and four grandchildren in their lives.

But, if you ask Stone, there was only one slight concern with Donna's four children.

"They all barrack for bloody Collingwood," he said light-heartedly.

Maureen ends in a way that'd truly warm the hearts of every North fan.

"I just know he's been happy here, the people have been very good to both of us," Maureen said.

"It's been a very good club and he's loved every minute of it."

"We will go to some games, but I'll miss it," Max replied.

"North Melbourne has been great to me and I hope that I've been great to them."