This week, we revisit the club’s first ever game in the VFL, fittingly against Geelong, and North Melbourne’s admission into the league.
North Melbourne made two unsuccessful attempts to join in the VFL, but it wasn’t until 29-years after its first expression of interest, it was finally accepted.
Three new teams were admitted on January 9, 1925, despite much debate. North was considered somewhat of ‘the lucky side’, according to The North Story, with Footscray, Hawthorn and Prahran the clubs originally nominated.
Eventually North Melbourne’s name was substituted for Prahran, and only 10 days later, the club received a latter acknowledging its request to join.
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North Melbourne’s colours of a royal blue jersey with a white V at the neck was approved and the preparations began for its first season of league football.
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| A North Melbourne membership card from the 1925 season. |
Wels Eicke was appointed coach, and a final list of 18 men was chosen as the first team to represent North Melbourne in the VFL.
They were:
Backs: Arch Giles, Dave Walsh, Alf Lamb
Half-backs: Cecil Gomez, Wels Eicke (c), Bill Smith (VC)
Centres: William Russ, Albert Linton, Jackie Lock
Half-forwards: Harold Clapson, Fred Metcalfe, Doug Lindsay
Forwards: Jim Goonan, Jocka Doherty, A. (Tim) Trevaskis
Followers: Johnny Lewis, Bill McIntosh
Rover: Harold Johnson
The players and coaches caught the train to Geelong and 10,000 people gathered at Corio Oval for the historic match.
Johnny Lewis combined with Jim Goonan for the Northerners’ first score in the VFL; a behind.
It seemed the more experienced Geelong team had the edge during the first match between the teams in 29-years. A 22-point margin was admittedly the scoreline most expected against the league’s new boys.
There was a sight to behold in the second quarter as Fred Metcalfe registered North’s first goal in league ranks and injuries to both of Geelong’s roving options evened things up further.
With a great second quarter (5.7 to 1.1), North had surprised many to lead at half-time.
It was a tough and willing game and when the sides broke from the main break, North’s Harold Johnson set the tone for the fighting spirit that would become a hallmark of the club for years to come, roving with a broken rib.
Geelong was considered to have a slight edge in the third quarter, but with Metcalfe and the injured Johnson the strongest performers for North, the visitors led by five points when the siren sounded.
Hundreds of North supporters had made the trip to support their team and the atmosphere was tense as the players gathered together.
The home team kicked the first goal of the last quarter to take the lead, with the attack on the ball ‘dogged and relentless’. A goal to Harold Clapson gave North the advantage, and a mistake from Geelong saw Johnny Lewis kick the match-winner.
Later in the year the tribunal was called in as the teams were involved a stoush, as Geelong avenged its earlier defeat.
As a measure of the significance of North’s win in the season opener, Geelong went on to win the premiership, its first in the VFL.
The future looked bright for the Northerners. Despite winning just five matches in its first season, they were above their two companions from association ranks, Hawthorn and Footscray.
