Past Legends

This section is under construction. It has been designed to pay tribute to some of the retired players that have represented the North Melbourne Football Club. If you would like to suggest any other players, and can provide a brief biography about them, please submit them.

Allen Aylett

220 games, 1952-1964
313 goals
Club Best and Fairest 1958-1960
Captain 1961-1964
1958 Tassie Medallist
1960 Simpson Medallist
All Australian 1958, 1961

One of the greatest rovers in football history, Aylett's contribution to football is outstanding. He debuted as a 17 year old in 1952, and never played an under-19 or Reserves game. Aylett also played Sheffield Shield cricket for Victoria, and was a dentist by profession. Aylett won 3 consecutive club best and fairests, All-Australian selection and later became club captain. Aylett was frequently a target on the field for the opposition. In 1963, against Hawthorn, Aylett was knocked unconcious for eight hours. Eventually Aylett retired after breaking his arm in 1964.

Aylett became club president in 1971, and was involved in getting Ron Barassi to North Melbourne. It was under Aylett's superb administration that North Melbourne won its first premiership. Aylett later became the ninth VFL President in 1977 and also National Football League President. He was instrumental in moving South Melbourne to Sydney, and remained VFL President until 1985 when the Commision was introduced. Aylett was awarded an OBE for his contribution to football.

Ron Barassi

Coach of North Melbourne 1973-1980

When Ron Barassi arrived as North Melbourne coach the team had just finished last, with one win in 1972. He immediately took North to sixth position in 1973, and then to six consecutive Grand Finals in 1974-1978 (including the 1977 Grand Final Replay). He was North coach for the 1975 and 1977 Premierships. Barassi also played in 6 premierships as a player at Melbourne and Carlton, and coached Carlton to two premierships. There are few more famous names in football than Ronald Dale Barassi.

Malcolm Blight

196 games from 1974-1982
445 goals
Premierships 1975,1977
22 finals appearances
Brownlow Medallist 1978 (22 votes)
Coleman Medallist 1982 (103 goals)
Club Best and Fairest 1978

Blight had the honour of winning both the Magarey (SANFL) and Brownlow Medals. He captained Victoria and South Australia, topped North's goalkicking four times, and holds the record for the most number of goals by a North player in a season (equal with Doug Wade).

Perhaps Blight's most famous moment was the huge torpedo he launched at Princes Park in 1976. The kick was taken after the siren, North needing the goal to defeat Carlton. Blight's kick travelled at least 70 metres for a goal. A similar event took place a few years later, when Blight kicked a point to tie the scores as the siren went. The umpire deemed he was pushed as he kicked the ball, and offered Blight another kick. Blight decided to kick again, as he was only 25 metres out from goal. A goal would win it for North. A point would tie the scores. Blight kicked the ball out of bounds, and North lost by a point!

The Malcolm Blight Cup is awarded to the winner of Victoria v's South Australia matches. It was inaugurated in 1989.

Blight was North's last playing coach, in 1981, before Barry Cable took over. He later became Geelong coach in 1989, and coached Adelaide to the 1997 Premiership.

Barry Cable

116 games
Premierships 1975, 1977
Triple Sandover Medallist
1966 Tassie Medallist
Club Best and Fairest 1970

Cable was a skilful left-footed rover, with exceptional disposal. He was known for his pinpoint handballing. Cable was a member of the 1975 and 1977 Premiership teams, and had the distinction of playing in 5 consecutive grand finals (1974-1977 Replay). Cable was Club Best and Fairest in 1970, and the first player to be presented the Syd Barker Medal. He later coached North Melbourne from 1981-1984.

Wally Carter

137 games (1929-1940)
31 goals
Coach of North Melbourne - 208 games (1948-1953, 1958-1962)
First Club Best and Fairest Winner (1937)
1937 Victorian Representative

Played for North Melbourne for 12 seasons, before coaching for 11 years. Carter brought North Melbourne to its first Grand Final in 1950, after coaching the reserves to the 1947 Premiership.

Barry Davis

Recruited from Essendon in 1973 under the now defunct 10 year rule, Davis was immediately installed as captain and went on to lead the club for 3 years culminating in the 1975, first ever, premiership win. A cherished moment for all North Melbourne supporters was when Davis accepted the Premiership cup, looked at it for a fleeting moment and then kissed it before holding it up to the cheers of 100,000 people at the MCG on the 27.9.75
(sent in by David Henricus)

David Dench

276 games (1989-1984)
26 goals
Club Best and Fairest 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981
Premierships 1975, 1977
Captain 1972
Victorian Representative on numerous times

North's greatest full-back, and regarded as one of the league's best in history. Dench represented North in the 1975 and 1977 Premiership teams, and was acting captain in the 1977 Premiership. He was noted for his attacking style of defence, and his long runs out from the backline. Dench was given the North captaincy in 1972 when just 20 years old, but was later replaced as captain by Barry Davis in 1973.

John Dugdale

248 games (1955-1970)
358 goals
Club Best and Fairest 1968
Captain 1968-1970
Club Leading Goalkicker 1960-1964

John Dugdale led North's goalkicking seven times. Recruited from Kensington, he played the key positions at both ends of the ground, and is remembered for his high leaping. Dugdale became captain in 1968, and won the Best and Fairest that year.

Laurie Dwyer

201 games (1956-58, 1960-64, 1966-70)
34 goals
Club Best and Fairest 1961, 1967

Nicknames "Twinkletoes" due to winning a Ballroom Dancing Championship, Dwyer was a skilful wing and centreman. He represented Victoria seven times, and won two Club Best and Fairests. He also finished second in the Brownlow in the years he won the Club Best and Fairest.

The Dwyer family is one of the most famous North Melbourne families. His father Leo played 71 games (1925-1935). Laurie's sons David and Anthony also played for North.

Les Foote

135 games (1941-51)
107 goals
Captain 1948-1951
Victorian Representative 1946-47, 1949-1951
Club Best and Fairest 1945, 1949, 1950

Recruited from amateur club North Melbourne Colts, Foote was a ruck-rover and centreman. He was a master of the blind turn, and had uncanny skills in avoiding opponents. His baulking skills reportedly came from practising in the city crowds in Swanston and Collins Streets. Foote won 3 best and fairests and was club captain for four years. He later played 33 games for St Kilda.

Ross Glendinning

190 games (1978-1986)
215 goals
Brownlow Medallist 1983
Club Best and Fairest 1982, 1983
Western Australian Representative 13 times
Victorian Representative 2 times

Recruited in 1978 from East Perth, Glendinning was one of the great key position North players. Capable of playing centre half forward or centre half back, he won the 1984 Brownlow Medal, after finishing second in 1982. Glendinning later left North Melbourne to become the first captain of the West Coast Eagles in 1987, playing a total of 40 games there.