North Melbourne 1975 premiership hero John Burns to join Sam Kekovich in centenary boycott

A second North Melbourne player from the 1975 premiership has joined Sam Kekovich’s boycott the club’s centenary celebrations, with the club sinking $150,000 into the marquee Thursday event.

Barry Davis, Ron Barassi & John Burns with the 1975 premiership cup. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

North Melbourne has invested $150,000 in Thursday week’s centenary celebrations and believes many of its 1975 premiership heroes will attend despite Sam Kekovich’s noisy public boycott.

But former Roos chief executive Eugene Arocca says he is surprised the club did not invite all of its living chief executives, with only club patron Greg Miller to attend the 100-year celebration.

The Herald Sun understands that Kekovich has been joined by four-goal 1975 Grand Final hero John Burns in boycotting the event.

The pair believe the Roos should have had a marquee stand-alone function on a weekend to celebrate their historic achievement 50 years on.

John Burns in the North Melbourne rooms. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Instead after being handed a rare Thursday night game in the fixture the Roos gave those premiership heroes a month of warning to announce they would be feted on Thursday as part of the centenary function.

The club will also celebrate its maiden AFLW premiership at that event at Marvel Stadium as the club plays Western Bulldogs, which has played a part in some of the discontent from the 1975 premiership players.

North Melbourne believes that it could barely have done more to celebrate those 1975 players.

They will be feted at a lavish function of up to 500 people, which is a stand-up cocktail reception rather than sit-down dinner which would have restricted the attendees to just over 200.

The club has also invited all of its past players to a separate function next door, with 40 players from the club’s history to be part of an onground televised celebration.

Sam Kekovich has been vocal in his boycott of North Melbourne’s centenary celebrations. Picture: Jason Edwards

The club had initially locked in round 20 against Geelong as the date but when it was handed a free-to-air prime time clash against the Dogs it pivoted late to ensure maximum exposure.

Several 1975 premiership players including Keith Greig have now committed to the function, with club legend Malcolm Blight flying in from Adelaide.

Instead of a Saturday night function at a venue like Crown Casino’s Palladium the Roos were keen to centre the centenary celebration around a game where fans could still buy general admission tickets to feel included.

Arocca told the Herald Sun on Monday he believed the club had made a mistake not inviting all of its former chief executives, including Ben Amarfio, Carl Dilena, himself and current AFL official Geoff Walsh.

Former North Melbourne chief executive officer Eugene Arocca.

Arocca helped the Roos build their current Arden Street headquarters during his tenure and was part of returning the club ownership to its fans from a shareholder-based arrangement.

“My understanding is none of the previous seven CEOs have been invited except for Greg Miller who as part of the premierships is an official club patron. We appointed 15 patrons when they gave up those shares so they get a ticket to everything,” Arocca said.

“I have had more than one ex-CEO ask if I got an invite.

“The club is doing its best with limited space on the day but you would think they would invite those CEOs who are living and contributed over the last 30 or 40 years.

“I am not fussed. I have reserved seats and will go with my boys but it seems odd when Hawthorn invited its ex-CEOS to its recent function.

“I am not going to rattle the cage. I understand the challenges of being a CEO and administrator but your 100-year celebration only comes around every 100 years.”

Originally published as North Melbourne 1975 premiership hero John Burns to join Sam Kekovich in centenary boycott