On International Women’s Day, North Melbourne took centre stage at Parliament House in Melbourne.

“We’re here to showcase that the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos have been an important vehicle for change in our quest for gender equality,” Minister for Women, Gabrielle Williams, told North Media.

Standing on the steps of the grand building, there was a swarm of North staff, executives, players, and coaching staff, all there to support and celebrate the day with Victorian government officials.

“It’s wonderful to have the girls here today to meet with a number of politicians and to share with them their achievements,” Williams said.

“To showcase AFLW and what women can do to break down gender stereotypes where they exist … and what better way to do that but through sport.”

The day was filled with discussions and ideas around improving equality.

“International Women’s Day is hugely important because it gives us the opportunity to both celebrate the achievements of women but also to reflect on what’s still to be done,” she said.

“We know that there is still a persistent issue of gender inequality in our community and virtually all pockets of our community.

“So, we can both celebrate and reflect on what it is we need to do next, and try to raise awareness about where that inequality exists.”

North staff similarly were reflecting on the day.

“When I started at North in 2010, I reckon I was the only woman on the executive,” North board member, Sonja Hood, said.

“We had heaps of women working throughout the club but not many in senior positions, and I look at the club now and it’s full of women in senior positions.”

45 per cent of North’s senior management team is female, but it’s not just off the field where North is excelling in this space.

“We now have a women’s footy team and actually when I walked through Arden Street for the first time and saw how the renovation had been done, and saw that Emma Kearney’s locker is the exact same size as Jack Ziebell’s locker, I just felt so incredibly proud,” Hood said.

“I love seeing men involved in the women’s team.

“Watching Ben Brown giving coaching notes on game day, and the other players who have been involved with the AFLW or even just watching the other AFL players come down and support the women playing has been amazing.

“North has always been a special place and it's really great to see so many women who are part of that.”