While he admits there was a little bit of ‘romanticism’ in his homecoming, North's new director of football says the amazing transformation at North was a big factor.
“In the time I’ve been away, one of the things that really imprints on my mind is that no longer do I hear the talk about ‘poor old North’ or ‘North are in a category where x, y or z club are going to be struggling’ or ‘they should re-locate’ or ‘they should merge’,” he said on Thursday shortly after the Roos announced a new three year deal with major sponsor Mazda.
“That’s a great credit to all the people who have been involved since my last stint there, because as CEO the last time around, I struggled with that.
I couldn’t make much of an impression with that.
“It’s also exciting because it’s a totally new place. The facilities are not even worth the comparison in terms of the difference.”
PRESS PLAY above to watch the media conference | YouTube
One of the most highly respected football administrators in the competition, Walsh helped Collingwood to a premiership in 2010.
Now he’s back where he belongs.
“I spent 12 years at North and it was in a successful time largely, but we also had some struggles. I enjoyed my time immensely.
“I think there are four people in the football department who were there seven years ago, there’s no-one in admin and there’s no-one on the board that was there.
“It’s a significantly different club, and I think that’s one of the things that excites me.”
North coach Brad Scott believes Walsh is the perfect addition to a football department already boasting the signing of the likes of Leigh Tudor and Gavin Brown in recent weeks.
“Nick Dal Santo signing on as a free agent…our playing stocks, while still youthful, we’ve strengthened that up with a bit of experience,” Scott said.
“But I think it’s the strengthening of our off-field team that’s potentially more exciting. We and I, made a commitment to the players back in 2009 when I was appointed that we’d provide the players with the very best opportunity for success and that we’d surround them with the best people.
“It’s a great coup for this football club that we’ve secured, who I think is the best football administrator in the game in Geoff, to come back and head up our football department.”
Walsh has only been back at Aegis Park for a week, but says there’s plenty of reason to be excited for the future.
“In my opinion and it’s a footy opinion, the club is in an upward direction as far as the team’s on-field capacity goes.
“This club is going forward in a hell of a lot of ways.”
