The North Melbourne community is saddened by the death of Marjorie Aylett, who passed away peacefully after a short illness on Monday.

Marj is the wife of former star player and club president through the 1970s, Allen Aylett. They were married for 64 years until Allen’s death in 2022.

Marj was made a life member of North Melbourne in 2007 in recognition of her service and support of the club over the course of six decades.

In 2019, she was invited to present the Best Clubwoman Award at North Melbourne’s inaugural AFLW Best and Fairest awards night. The winner was now North Melbourne premiership player and club great, Jasmine Garner.

Marj was thrilled to watch Jasmine and the team bring home North Melbourne’s first AFLW Premiership just days before her passing.

On the eve of the 2023 AFL season, after the southern end of Marvel Stadium was named in honour of her husband at North Melbourne home games, Marj penned these words to the Kangaroos’ AFL squad:

“When you run out on the ground this week, in our first game as the new North Melbourne, remember one thing – with every punch to spoil, with every bump to get to the ball and with every tackle to take them down, you have the strength of the 1046 Shinboners who came before you, the passion of more than 50,000 members and tens of thousands of fans, and the grit and determination of Allen behind you.

“I remember Allen saying many times – at North Melbourne we may not have everything, but we have something no other club has. We have the Shinboner Spirit. And that is everything we need.”

North Melbourne president Dr Sonja Hood AM was saddened by news of Marj’s passing.

“In many ways Marj was the matriarch of the club through our first successful era in the 1970s,” Dr Hood said.

“She worked incredibly hard and gave so much of her time alongside Allen and so many other great North Melbourne people during those years.

“Our fans have such great memories of that time – a time that delivered our first VFL/AFL flag – because of people like Marj.

“On a personal note, I very much valued Marj’s counsel and support – she really was one of the good ones.

“To Marj’s children, Tony, Rick, Julie and Sam, we offer sincere condolences and say thank-you for sharing your mother with the wider North Melbourne family for so many years.”