North Melbourne set to ask members to approve possible fourth term for presidents

The Kangaroos have proposed dramatic changes to their constitution that could see Dr Sonja Hood’s reign stretch into an unprecedented fourth term.

North Melbourne is seeking a change to its constitution which could allow Dr Sonja Hood to continue as president until 2031.

The Kangaroos will ask members to vote on a proposal to extend the possible tenure of a club president into a fourth term to provide the club “stability of governance”.

Dr Hood has already been re-elected to the North Melbourne board for a third term until the end of 2028, but could be elected to remain president for a further three years at the 2028 AGM if the proposed change is voted through.

A North Melbourne spokesperson said the increased term limit, which will be voted on at the Roos’ AGM on December 11, had been driven by the club and not Dr Hood.

Dr Hood took over in 2022. Picture: Michael Klein

“The club is proposing this constitutional change which is fundamentally about providing stability of governance for the club on an ongoing basis,” the spokesperson said.

“It will allow a director who is president the opportunity to be re-elected for an additional term, a total of four terms.

“This is a common governance model.

“The proposed change to the constitution would apply to current and future presidents. In the case of Dr Sonja Hood, if she opted to seek a fourth term when her third term expires at the end of 2028, she would still be required to obtain approval of the club’s members at the 2028 AGM to extend for a fourth term.“

Dr Hood and directors Andrew Harris and Rodney Piltz were re-elected unopposed ahead of the AGM next month.

Former North captain Anthony Stevens and Paul Dwyer resigned from the board last year and were replaced by real estate boss Nick Dowling and another former club skipper in Andrew Swallow.

Allowing a president to serve on the North Melbourne board for up to 12 years would bring the club into line with Carlton and Essendon’s term limits for directors.

But other clubs including Collingwood, Hawthorn and Melbourne impose a three-term, nine-year limit on their directors.

Geelong introduced a nine-year tenure limit for board members at the end of 2024 after previously allowing directors to serve for up to 12 years.

Originally published as North Melbourne set to ask members to approve possible fourth term for presidents