North Melbourne chairman Ben Buckley believes sweeping changes at Arden St can deliver flag success
It was a year of change at North Melbourne with a new coach, chief executive, football manager and list manager but one that was necessary if the club is to end its premiership drought.
Nrth Melb
Don't miss out on the headlines from Nrth Melb. Followed categories will be added to My News.
North Melbourne’s impatience in its quest to win its first flag in two decades was the catalyst for changing four of the key pillars within the organisation, according to Kangaroos chairman Ben Buckley.
As Buckley publicly unveiled new chief executive Ben Amarfio and new general manager of football Brady Rawlings on Thursday, he expressed confidence the club had installed the right people in their respective roles to aggressively chase the club’s fifth premiership.
Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
“This has been an incredible year of change for our football club,” Buckley said.
“It was borne out of frustration and impatience to be successful on the field and off the field.
“We’ve done a fantastic job in the last five-to-10 years of building a sustainable operational platform but ultimately we exist to play in premierships.”
Amarfio started in the role in mid-November, having replaced Carl Dilena, while Rawlings officially returned to the club at the start of this month after the end of a negotiated settlement with West Coast.
With Rhyce Shaw set to embark on his first full-season as senior coach, and with Glenn Luff elevated to list manager, Buckley said it was an exciting time for the club and backed the coach’s desire to shoot for the stars as early as 2020.
“We haven't played in a premiership since 1999," he said.
“As a board, we're ambitious, we're impatient, (and) we want to be successful.
“We think with a new line-up to support Rhyce in his first year as a full-time coach and with (captain) Jack Ziebell, we have an outstanding leadership group.”
Both Buckley and Amarfio said the club was fully committed to playing four home games in Tasmania for the remaining two years of its contract, but would not entertain playing more matches per season.
Amarfio said: “We think the two team model works for us and for Hawthorn, and we think it works for the fans and the community.”
“If the AFL determines they want to have a dedicated team down there, we won't stand in their way and we will be fully supportive of that.
“But until such time that that happens – and there might be a report coming out shortly – we will continue playing there and continue investing in the community.”
Buckley added: “We have got two more years of an agreement to play four games. We think there are some additional things we can do to work with Tasmania to bring Tassie footy back to a more prominent position on the national landscape, in terms of … participation and development and elite player pathways.
“We've made a commitment to play four games (a year in Tasmania) … we don't intend to play more than four.”
Amarfio joins the Kangaroos, having previously worked in senior executive roles for the AFL, Cricket Australia, NBA Australia, and with Austereo.
His departure from Cricket Australia last November came amid claims he had requested his secretary cook and serve him a hot breakfast.
Amarfio laughed off that claim, saying: “The people in the know accept it for what it was, a tongue-in-cheek tale that created a life of its own.
“No one really took it seriously. I think there is a lot of hollandaise sauce on that story.”
Buckley added Amarfio had volunteered to “put the apron on” at the club’s staff barbecue every second Friday.
READ MORE:
Kennett lashes AFL’s halftime plan
Essendon’s pre-season injury crisis deepens
NO MORE TENSION FOR RAWLINGS, EAGLES
North Melbourne’s new general manager of football Brady Rawlings has revealed there were some initial tensions surrounding his decision to quit West Coast to return home to Arden St, but stressed his friendship with great mate and Eagles coach Adam Simpson remained strong.
Speaking for the first time since starting with the Kangaroos this month, Rawlings said Simpson considered the pair still had “unfinished business” at West Coast but understands his decision to return to his former club.
Rawlings had been contracted to the Eagles, but accepted the North Melbourne role in late June.
Negotiations between the two clubs saw them reach an agreement where he would leave West Coast immediately, but wouldn't start at Arden Street until after the trade and draft periods.
“I have a terrific relationship with West Coast, obviously Adam Simpson and I are really good friends,” Rawlings said on Thursday.
“I had a contractual obligation I needed to fulfil until December 1, which I did, and that's out of respect for West Coast as a club.
“The relationships I had at West Coast did make it (the decision) somewhat difficult.
“Obviously when you go over there with the coach (Simpson), he felt like there was unfinished business. That was a pretty hard conversation to have.
“But I needed to do what was best for my footy club here, and for me and my family.”
Rawlings has long been one of Simpson’s closest confidants, leaving the Kangaroos in late 2013 when his great mate and former teammate became coach of the Eagles.
He was an assistant coach and later list manager with the Eagles, with the 2018 flag success the high point.
Rawlings stressed that he “100 per cent” didn't play an active role in the Kangaroos' 2020 list strategy through the trade and draft periods.
North Melbourne chairman Ben Buckley joked that Rawlings had become “a good gardener” in his five months away from football.
“The green thumb has come out,” Rawlings added.
Rawlings backed the Kangaroos' current list strategy, saying he was confident the club's elite older players would again mix well with the younger core who produced four Rising Star nominations this year.
But he also said the club would continue to be bold in chasing future talent through “all avenues”.