Which AFL team should I support?

Answer: North Melbourne Kangaroos

If you're new to the sport of Australian Football and need a team to follow, there's only one choice to make – support North Melbourne. The North Melbourne Football Club is known as the Kangaroos and is represented by teams in the Australian Football League, AFL Women's, Victorian Football League and VFL Women's. If you like to support a team that thrives on the 'underdog' status, continually punches above its weight, has a long history and represents its community with pride, then the Kangaroos are for you.

Our colours

The North Melbourne Football Club was founded in 1869 and later became known as 'the Kangaroos'. The club has also been known as the 'Shinboners' and the 'Blue Birds', but the Kangaroo has been the mascot that has stuck. Former president Phonse Tobin wanted a name that was characteristically Australian and unsurprisingly decided on the country's national animal. The Kangaroo is also known for never taking a backward step – much like the North Melbourne Football Club. Since entering the VFL in 1925, the club's guernsey has consisted of royal blue and white vertical stripes.

Our home

North Melbourne’s administration and training facility is based on Arden Street in North Melbourne. You can also see the club's AFLW, VFL and VFLW teams play home matches at Arden Street Oval. League games were played at the venue, but the club’s home AFL matches are now held at Marvel Stadium, Docklands. North Melbourne is known for being a working-class area on the outskirts of the Melbourne CBD. The area has thrived in recent years to become a popular destination, with Errol Street its home to many cafes and retail stores.

Our fans

While it is one of the oldest clubs in the world, North Melbourne continues to break new ground in the community and fight for respect, dignity and inclusion for everyone. The Kangaroos have the best fans in the country who back the club's progressive approach with supporting people across different ages, genders and cultures. The Huddle was established in 2010 as the community arm of the Club in partnership with the Scanlon Foundation and the Australian Multicultural Foundation. It was created to engage, support and empower young people to build on their strengths, increase their ability to participate in society and contribute to more socially inclusive communities.

Our success

North Melbourne has won 10 premierships in its history; six in the Victorian Football Association and four in VFL/AFL history. It had to wait 50 years for its first VFL/AFL premiership, defeating Hawthorn in 1975 at the MCG. It then defeated Collingwood in the 1977 Grand Final replay after the initial match ended in a draw. The two premierships in the 1990s came at the expense of Sydney (1996) and Carlton (1999).

Our identity

The club has an envied culture and those lucky enough to have played in the royal blue and white are dubbed "Shinboners"; a term which dates back to the 19th-century and local abattoir-workers. The phrase 'Shinboner Spirit' is synonymous with the club. Legendary club administrator Ron Joseph famously said: "At clubs with bigger memberships, their supporters only touch their colours, but at North we have the Shinboner spirit. North people can touch that spirit – they are the real Shinboners, they are the club." The club's motto is Victoria amat curam, Latin for "Victory Demands Dedication".

The North Melbourne Football Club is characterised by its inner-city location, working-class background and a determination to succeed, even against the odds. The club values its members and fans more than anything and your support of the Kangaroos will be vital as we build towards our next premiership.

Are you with us?