Coming at the end of the club’s community camp, the match was the first chance for the players to put into practice all the hard work done in the lead-up.
Ben Cunnington was the standout of proceedings, with Brad Scott pleased by his performance.
“He played the way he’s been training all pre-season so he’s starting to do the things that he was doing in under-18 footy.
“We’ve always had great confidence in Ben and he’s really starting to develop. He’s still got a fair way to go – he knows that – but he showed today some of the special things he can do.”
After the intraclub, North Melbourne prepared for the NAB Cup, in what turned out to be its last year as a competition.
With the first round of matches again shortened to two games of 17-minute halves, North faced Melbourne and then Richmond at Etihad Stadium.
In two close games, the Kangaroos were victors in both encounters by a combined total of six points. They defeated Melbourne 38-36, before Aaron Black’s late goal lead the side to victory over Richmond, 48-44.
Majak Daw was a standout, providing several highlight reel plays, the best of which was his ‘don’t argue’ to the Tigers’ Steven Morris.
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The day after North’s two pre-season wins, it held its annual Family Day at Royal Park. Filled with plenty of entertainment, rides and even past players, the day was one to remember for hundreds of younger fans.
As a busy week rounded out the month of February, the Aegis Park redevelopment was complete. Stretched out to the dimensions of Etihad Stadium, the extra space on the ground allowed players to be pushed much harder during training sessions.
Meanwhile, Glenn Archer spoke about the need for the side to be confident heading into the season, reflecting on his own experience in 1993.
"We got a heap of confidence out of the '93 season. We actually should have finished on top that season but we lost to the Bulldogs in the last round which took us down to third and the Bulldogs were on the bottom of the ladder too.
"Through that season we were the best team in the home and away so we gained a lot of confidence out of that. Confidence is a massive thing, particularly when you're young.”
