Dear members and supporters,

There is a unique energy around a football club on the eve of a new season – a mixture of optimism, resolve, and a healthy sense of impatience. Everyone just wants Round 1 to arrive. I’m sure you're all feeling the same way.

As we embark on season 2026, that energy is underpinned by a harder edge of expectation.

We aren't starting over anymore. The foundations are well and truly laid. We’ve focused on the ‘build' and ‘process' for long enough. Now the conversation, and critically our performances, must shift.

As Alastair Clarkson enters his fourth season he’s supported by a coaching, medical, and high-performance team that has found its rhythm. Stability and cohesion in past seasons have allowed us to freshen our game plan, giving our players the tactical clarity they need to compete with the best.

Joining Clarko and our coaches in making that shift is a new-look leadership group, led by captain Nick Larkey, who represents the resilience we want this entire club to embody, and vice-captain Harry Sheezel, the epitome of the modern professional.

In addition, there’s the vocal passion of Charlie Comben, the on-field brilliance of Luke Davies-Uniacke, the tough presence of Tristan Xerri, and the quiet, impactful authority of Cam Zurhaar. 

This group has earned the respect and trust of their teammates and coaches, and carries the responsibility to lead our team back to where we all want our club to be. But that responsibility doesn’t sit with the leaders alone. 

The message to the entire playing group this year is simple: the ‘potential' phase is over. We aren't looking for brief flashes anymore. We are looking for a standard that honours the emotional and financial investment that our members and supporters make every single year.

For the past few years, we have asked for your loyalty while we stripped back, rebuilt, and stabilised. You have given us that loyalty in spades, staying the course through the glimpses and the potential.

And your support, combined with the work of every single person in our club, has ensured we are stable, united and commercially strong. Without that, we simply wouldn’t be able to compete on the field.

We don't expect the journey from here to be easy. But we do expect to see a team that reflects the grit and the determination of its members, and that makes you proud to wear the royal blue and white.

Before I finish, a word of congratulations to club director Nick Dowling, who was officially endorsed as our vice-president at the February Board meeting. Nick is the Chair of real estate giant Jellis Craig, and a Director of REA Group, Assemble Communities, and Foundit Technologies. He has been on the North Melbourne board since 2024. 

Nick’s professional credentials speak volumes and his clear-thinking, passion, and deep knowledge of the club and the game provide tremendous value to our board. Again, congratulations Nick! 

Also, a very happy birthday to Shinboner No.460 John Dugdale, who turned 90 last Sunday. John is an official North Melbourne Hall of Fame Legend and one of the true greats of the game. Happy birthday, John!

Finally, from one of our longest serving Shinboners to our newest: congratulations Tom Blamires and Lachy Dovaston, who both make their AFL debuts on Sunday. You have your own contribution to make to our story now, and we look forward to watching it unfold with you and your families.

And on that note – see you all at the footy and Go Roos!

Sonja