North Melbourne will play a home pre-season match at Arden Street

AFTER 31 years, footy is back at Arden Street. As the Roos prepare to host a pre-season game, take a look back at why the iconic ground is so special.

Wayne Carey and Glen Archer at Arden Street Oval with the premiership cup.

IT has been 31 years since Arden Street has hosted an AFL game.

On August 17 1985, North Melbourne played against Richmond with the Kangaroos cruising to a 50 point win in front of 7,341 fans.

But in 2017 footy is heading back to the suburbs.

One of Melbourne’s most iconic sporting grounds, Arden Street will host a pre-season game between North Melbourne and Hawthorn on February 26.

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So what was it that made Arden Street so special?

Here are some of the most memorable moments from the ground.

ELEPHANT GOES ROGUE

A travelling circus troupe was promoting a nearby performance by parading one of its elephants around the ground at half time of the Round 5, 1978 North Melbourne v Collingwood game only for it to be spooked by Magpies players running onto the field and the crowd roaring. With a girl on board, the elephant charged around the ground but luckily it stopped before anyone was hurt.

An elephant, spooked by the crowd, takes off around the boundary line at Arden Street.

TWO DRAWS IN ONE DAY

It was a bizarre day at Arden St on 26 May, 1973 when both North Melbourne’s seniors and reserves drew with Footscray. In front of 16,148 people, the two teams finished on exactly the same score — 8.8 (56).

NORTH’S REMARKABLE COMEBACK

Another famous win against Essendon at Arden St came in 1947 when North Melbourne overcame a 44-point three-quarter time deficit on May 24 to defeat the Bombers by eight points. North Melbourne kicked 8.4 to 0.0 in the last quarter. Chris Carroll booted five goals for the winners, while Dick Reynolds kicked four for Essendon.

THE GASOMETER

A huge gasometer cast such a shadow over North Melbourne’s Arden St oval that visiting teams would joke about hiding an extra player or two in its darkness. North’s enormous ruckman Mick Nolan was named “The Galloping Gasometer” by Lou Richards.

Footscray footballer Ted Whitten taking a mark in front of the gasometer.

A GUTSY ROOS VICTORY

North Melbourne secured one of its most famous victories at Arden St when it was forced to play with only 17 fit men on the ground in the last quarter against Essendon in Round 9, 1976. Suffering a number of injuries didn’t stop a determined team who also overcame kicking against the wind in the last term to run out two-point winners — 8.10 (58) to 7.12 (54). North champion Barry Cable had 26 possessions.

FRANCIS BOURKE’S HEROICS

One of the toughest players to play the game, Francis Bourke played both on the wing and in defence but it was during his time as a backman that produced one of the most memorable moments of his career and it happened at Arden St in 1980. After copping a knock from a teammate to the head, Bourke had blood flowing all over his face only for him to wipe it from his eyes, mark and kick a memorable goal.

DOUG WADE BOOTS SEVEN IN A QUARTER

Now kicking three in a quarter is considered a great achievement but in 1974 Doug Wade put Collingwood to the sword by kicking seven goals in the third quarter to lead North Melbourne to a 91-point victory. Wade finished with eight goals for the game.

Richmond star Francis Bourke.

Doug Wade kicked seven goals in a quarter at Arden Street.

WINNING WITH THREE FEWER GOALS

In Round 13 1944, North Melbourne defeated Richmond by a point at Arden St but actually kicked three fewer goals than the Tigers. North Melbourne won the game 11.21 (87) to Richmond’s 14.2 (86) — the only time a team has won by kicking three goals less than the opposition.

LAST VFL MATCH

North Melbourne hosted its final game at Arden St in Round 20, 1985 on August 17 against Richmond. The Kangaroos won the game by 50 points, 16.20 (116) to 9.12 (66) in front of 7,341 fans. Former AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou had 27 disposals on the day, while Maurice Rioli was one of Richmond’s best.

The banner for the final game at Arden Street.

Even after the final game, Arden Street continued to provide some fantastic moments in North Melbourne’s history.

From celebrating premierships to night training sessions, the ground will always be home to the Roos’ faithful.

Corey McKernan holds up the 1996 Premiership Cup at Arden Street in front of thousands of fans.

North Melbourne take time out from training to play some cricket.

Wayne Carey signs an autograph after training at Arden Street.

Daniel Harris and teammates play golf at Arden Street.

Premiership winning coach Denis Pagan taking a night training session at Arden Street.

Ex-Kangaroo greats Stan Alves, Peter Chisnall and John Byrne return for a training session at Arden Street.

Coach Dean Laidley plays some golf.

Darren Crocker at Arden Street after the 1996 Grand Final.

A young Brent Harvey training at Arden Street.

Originally published as North Melbourne will play a home pre-season match at Arden Street