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North Melbourne played it's first match on 25 September 1869. North beat Northcote at Royal Park in it's last match of the season. The clubs first goal was kicked by D. Cook.
North won it's first VFA flag in 1903. The Grand Final was played at the M.C.G in front of 20,000 fans. The game was against Richmond and North won 7.6 (48) to 3.9 (27).
North attempted to join the VFL in 1907 and 1921 but failed on both occasions. The VFL accepted North in 1925 and in it's first match they beat eventual premiers Geelong 9.13 (67) to 8.11 (59)
North was known as the Shinboners before it adopted the Kangaroos as its official name and emblem.
For almost a quarter of a century, North Melbourne gave few reasons why it should have been in the competition languishing near the bottom of the ladder.
North's first final in the VFL was played in 1945 against Carlton. The final was played at Princess Park and a record crowd of 54,846 witnessed North get demolished. The final score was North 8.20 (68) to Carlton 14.10 (94)
North's first Grand Final was in 1950 and they lost to Essendon 7.12 (54) to 13.14 (92).
It was not until the arrival of super coach Ron Barassi in 1973, that the once easy beats started to make rivals sit up and take notice.
After finishing sixth in 1973, the Kangaroos made their first Grand Final in 1974 only to go down to Richmond, but the following year, amid wild celebrations, the Roos took their first flag home to Arden Street.
Bridesmaid again in 1976, North Melbourne was again in the thick of things when it was involved in the sensationally drawn Grand Final of 1977 against Collingwood and then won the replay comfortably the following week.
Through the mid-1980s, Barry Cable, Malcolm Blight, John Kennedy and champion defender, Wayne Schimmelbusch, all had stints as coach, but, while at times very competitive, no flags were forthcoming.
In the 1990s, as market forces started to bear down on Melbourne-based clubs, North Melbourne followed in Essendon's footsteps to the MCG and then embarked on the bold step of making night football their own.
They found success and a new breed of fans. Denis Pagan, one of the most successful coaches at under-19 and reserves level, was finally given a senior role as coach in 1993 and, after three consistent years near the top, broke the drought with the help of champion forward Wayne Carey to win the flag in 1996 and once again deny the critics who had predicted the demise of the club.
In 1998 North made it to the Grand Final against Adelaide. At half time North were comfortably on top and were looking for their second Grand Final in three years. Adelaide shocked North in the third quarter and eventually won the Grand Final.
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