On December 6, 2007 at a meeting of more than 2500 loyal members, newly appointed Chairman James Brayshaw received a standing ovation as he announced North Melbourne had rejected a proposal to relocate to the Gold Coast.
In perhaps the most dramatic day in the club's history, the Kangaroos did what comes naturally - stand up and fight.
"A part of the AFL deal is that we completely hand the keys over and it's owned and run by the AFL. There's no North Melbourne Football Club in that," Brayshaw said on the day.
Brayshaw went on to commit to ensuring the club would secure its long term future in Melbourne.
"No-one attached to the club is saying this is going to be an easy 12 to 18 months or five or 10 years. But having said that, I think we've got to change fundamentally how we go about running the footy club.”
Living up to his word, Brayshaw, the Board and new administration headed up by Eugene Arocca began to redefine the club and cement its position in the competition.
Through this new leadership, North Melbourne was returned to the members, a state-of-the-art $15 million training facility was built, funding for an oval redevelopment secured, Football Department expenditure increased from $11.7 million (2007) to $16 million (2012), net revenue went up by 60% (since 2007), Brad Scott was appointed coach and the playing list regenerated and just as significantly, new growth areas in Hobart, Ballarat and Wyndham were identified.
All of this, in just four years.
"We're a niche, a boutique, a club that's not Collingwood or Essendon and the sooner we realise that and cut our cloth to that and make our business tailored to that, the better we're going to be."
However, one big challenge still remains; club debt. But Brayshaw and his team are set to announce an exciting new campaign to reduce the amount of money the club owes in order to help it return to its former premiership glory of the late 70’s and 90’s.
Tell us how far you think the club has come in the past four years. Leave a comment below.
