North raised around $1.8 million in 2013; but that money had to be used to pay off debt and invest in football in order to remain competitive and in touch with other clubs.
"We've had to initiate significant fundraising, over and above our debt reduction campaign, to invest in football," Dilena told the Herald Sun.
"We see this investment as critical given the escalation in this area across the AFL. We are aiming to be competitive and build a period of sustained success, but remain one of the lowest spending clubs.
"We can't simply rely on fundraising and the generosity of our loyal supporters as a future model."
Director of Football Geoff Walsh, as well as assistant coaches Leigh Tudor and Gavin Brown have been among the club's off-field additions, while Nick Dal Santo's recruitment was another significant coup for the club.
Chairman James Brayshaw says the time is right for the players to be paid what they deserve.
"There are two things there - firstly it is whether you use that money elsewhere in the business because you have to, which has been a big part of the last six or seven years. But secondly, when you are sitting outside the eight there is a strong argument to say you shouldn't be spending 100 per cent anyway," he told Grant Baker.
"When next year comes around, we should be in a position where 100 per cent is what we are paying and our players, by that stage a large bulk of them will be around the 100-game mark and they warrant being paid it."
The Kangaroos have managed to reduce debt from $8 million in 2007 to less than $3 million, but more significantly, they've still been able to increase spend in the football department.
North's move into Hobart has been an important revenue raiser; it makes the club around $500,000 per home match. However the current deal with Etihad Stadium remains one of the biggest issues.
"In loose terms, we used to play 11 games there (at Etihad Stadium) before we took a couple down to Hobart and we used to net - across those 11 games - about $600,000. So in comparison, Geelong makes more than that in one game," Brayshaw added.
"We were just getting smashed at the gate. And the AFL recognises that and we get an amount of money granted to us every year to compensate."
Equalisation continues to be a huge discussion point in AFL circles, a movement Brayshaw says is vital.
"A lot of it stems around stadium economics. And I don't blame anyone, by the way. Because in 2025 the AFL is going to pay $30 and own a billion-dollar asset, so we all understand the end game.
"But what we don't want is for it to cripple us along the way, and therefore quite rightly the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda and ourselves, Carlton and Essendon have gone to the AFL and said we need to be compensated for in effect purchasing this asset for the 18 clubs. There is no secret in any of that, and the AFL have been really good with it and said 'we understand that'. So that is a big part of equalisation."
Keeping all clubs competitive is a great challenge, but one that equalisation will help to conquer.
"It had to happen. Otherwise we would have just ended up with an EPL model where you've got three or four clubs that have everything and 15 clubs that are just doing their best.
"That's not what our competition is about - there's no point having a draft, no point having a salary cap if you are supporting a team that every year you think has no chance of winning.
"So, the way it should work is every 18 years you get your chance of getting a look at it (a premiership). All we do, like every other club, is try and beat the odds and hope it happens more than once every 18 years."
