To everyone at the North Melbourne Football Club, I want to express to you all how humbled I and my family are that the club has dedicated Round 1 to Allen.

After Allen passed away last year, it was so special that we were able to have his service at Arden Street so that he could come home one more time before he left.

Allen was passionate about our club and held it in such high regard, and now this week you are all demonstrating your high regard for him. Thank you.

To the entire admin team - I was fortunate to see the inner workings of the club when Allen was playing and particularly during his two stints as President, so I want to remind you just how important you are. We don’t get to go into battle on the field every week without your hard work and dedication – you are the backbone of our great club.

To Sonja and Jen – what an amazing opportunity you both have, to lead North into the future. As the first woman to be honoured with a North Melbourne Life Membership I think I am allowed to say this - with two such talented women in charge, how can we not be successful!

Allen would have been so excited at the end of last season when Alastair agreed to come home - it was virtually 50 years to the day since he, with Albert Mantello and Ron Joseph, lured Ron Barassi to North back in 1972. And we all know how that turned out.

Alastair, having had such wonderful success at Hawthorn you carry the heavy burden of high expectations. I saw Allen carry the same burden moving from his successful playing career into his role as President in pursuit of our first premiership. If Allen were here to give you any advice, I know he would tell you to keep your head down, focus on the goal and (as he liked to say) never, never, NEVER give up.

To those that have joined us from other clubs - you have come to a very special place. We welcome you with open arms and will always treat you as one of our own.

To those of you playing your first game this week – I remember how excited Allen was before playing his first senior game for North at the age of just 17 (back then that meant he was the youngest player ever to play seniors). No doubt you are just as excited in the lead up to your first game as he was and I encourage you go out there and show the passion this club deserves. Lean on your teammates, but also lead from the front.

To our seasoned campaigners – Todd, Jack and Ben. You are truly what this club is all about – hard work and dedication. Allen would be so proud of you all.

To Jy and Luke - Allen got the chance to captain this great club for four years and I think he would have considered this his greatest achievement – more than his best and fairests, more than being president, more than his time at the VFL. Simply because being captain was when he got to lead his mates into battle. Enjoy it and relish it, but never forget the trust others have placed in you and the responsibility that brings.

And to all of our boys. While I have never played a game of football I did nurse Allen, battered and bruised, through 13 seasons and 220 games so I have some idea just what you put yourselves through each week. It is tough but it can be so rewarding.

You can be the John Dugdales and Laurie Dwyers, the Malcolm Blights and Keith Greigs, the Wayne Schimmelbuschs, the Careys, the McCartneys, the Stevens, the Archers and the Harveys of today’s North Melbourne. You can be the Allen Ayletts of today’s North Melbourne.

When you run out on the ground this week, in our first game as the new North Melbourne, remember one thing - with every punch to spoil, with every bump to get to the ball and with every tackle to take them down, you have the strength of the 1,046 Shinboners who came before you, the passion of more than 50,000 members and tens of thousands of fans, and the grit and determination of Allen behind you.

I remember Allen saying many times – at North Melbourne we may not have everything, but we have something no other club has. We have the Shinboner Spirit. And that is everything we need.

Do yourselves, each other, and Allen and I proud.

Sincerely,

Marjorie Aylett
Life Member, North Melbourne Football Club