North Melbourne will pay tribute to club legend and former VFL president Dr Allen Aylett during its Round 1 match at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
Aylett played 220 games, kicked 311 goals, and won three consecutive club best and fairest awards for the Kangaroos throughout the 1950s and ‘60s. But it was as an administrator Aylett left his greatest mark on the game, most famously leading the administration that delivered North Melbourne its first premiership in 1975.
He passed away in September 2022, aged 88.
The club will honour Aylett and his incredible legacy on Saturday afternoon with an on-field presentation before the game, a commemorative logo on the players’ guernseys, black armbands worn by players, coaches and staff, a special banner, and his wife Marj Aylett and family featured in the club guard of honour.
The club will also rename the northern and southern ends of Marvel Stadium, the Arden St end and the Aylett end, for its seven home matches at the ground in 2023.
“There’s no bigger figure in the North Melbourne Football Club’s history than Dr Allen Aylett,” North Melbourne chief executive Jennifer Watt said.
“When we were planning to honour Allen earlier this year, we came up with the idea of extending the acknowledgement of his legacy into a year-long celebration.
“Allen’s family are absolutely thrilled that their father’s name will be attached to the southern end of Marvel Stadium for all of our home matches in 2023, the Aylett name always looking north back to the Arden St end.”
Aylett served as North Melbourne president from 1971 to 1976, helping lead the club to its first premiership in 1975 on the back of a bold recruitment strategy that started with luring champion coach Ron Barassi to signing star trio Barry Davis, Doug Wade and John Rantall.
This was the beginning of a successful era for the Roos, resulting in six consecutive grand finals (including one drawn) and two premierships.
Aylett was later elected president of the VFL in 1977 and held that role until 1984. He was also president of the National Football League before returning to North Melbourne for a second stint as president from 2001 to 2005.
His wife Marj visited Arden St on Tuesday, where the playing group presented her with a tribute guernsey featuring Aylett’s number 17 on the back.
