North Melbourne has officially signed an agreement with the Werribee Football Club to begin a single alignment from 2016.
The Kangaroos will end their partnership with North Ballarat at the conclusion of the VFL home and away season this weekend.
North CEO and Managing Director Carl Dilena says the move will have wide-ranging benefits for both clubs.
“For us it makes sense to have all our players under the one roof and we’re delighted to strengthen our partnership further with Werribee,” Dilena said.
“With former North development coach John Lamont at the helm and the likes of Mark Penaluna leading the way, we see some great opportunities for North Melbourne and Werribee in the short and long-term.”
The new agreement covers the 2016/17 VFL seasons with an option for a further year.
While Werribee will continue to wear its own jumper, have its own club song and play home games at Avalon Airport Oval, North Melbourne will have a greater input into the on field workings of the club.
“This is a very big step for our club and one that ensures our football future in the VFL competition,” Werribee CEO Mark Penaluna said.
“We have a real football connection with the Kangaroos and will continue to give our players an opportunity to play at the highest level as we have done in the past for the likes of Ben Brown, Michael Barlow, Dale Morris, Kyle Hartigan and James Podsiadly.”
Dilena said the clubs will work closely to enhance the connection with the community through various initiatives and programs and that North Melbourne is already helping with Werribee’s plans to build a new multi-purpose facility.
“The City of Wyndham boasts a large contingent of North supporters and we are planning to enhance our presence in the area by establishing a Huddle classroom and offering world-class educational programs and services to the community.”
Established in 2010 at Arden Street in North Melbourne to improve social cohesion by systematically addressing the causes of disengagement among young people, the multi-award winning Huddle’s programs target youths from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Since 2010, The Huddle has reached more than 40,000 young people from low-socio economic communities.
“We strongly believe replicating The Huddle model in The City of Wyndham will have a massive impact on the community,” Dilena added.
“Through the use of subjects such as technology, sport, positive education, team building, mentoring and role models we can challenge and engage the youths in the area, to create active community participants and to develop them into leaders.”
Dilena added North Melbourne and Werribee share some significant long term goals.
“We will be looking to run multicultural football academy programs with Werribee and part of that will be exploring the possibility of a women's team.
“In essence, the exciting alignment will open up a whole range of new opportunities to explore.”
