Although the official opening is still months away, there were ringing endorsements for North Melbourne and its groundbreaking new headquarters from some of the state’s heaviest hitters on Monday.

“North Melbourne has been working so hard over the last couple of years to really engage closely with our local community and as the Member for Melbourne, I'm just absolutely delighted that North Melbourne is staying here, in North Melbourne building stronger and better and engaging and contributing to our local community,” announced Education Minister and proud North Melbourne member Bronwyn Pike.

Ms Pike was accompanied by Sports Minister James Merlino at the special media open day and both were given a special tour from club chief executive Eugene Arocca.

“The administration and the players have elite training facilities, up there with the best in the land,” Merlino observed.

“It's a great thing not only for the football club but for the general community and it really does in-mesh AFL clubs with our local communities.”

The exterior of the $15M complex is yet to be completed, but the interior and resources rival any in the country. Pike and Merlino were particularly impressed and enthused about the level of community engagement the club will provide through the innovative Learning and Life Centre.

“Here at Arden Street you've not only got the State Fencing Centre, an indoor multi-use court, but you've also got the learning and life centre and this is the most innovative part of all of the AFL projects right across the state,” said Mr Merlino.

“People from the local community will be able to use facilities here, enjoy the redevelopment of this site, the beautification of this area, but most importantly have a club that they can genuinely call their own and North Melbourne has been out and about connecting with community leaders, getting into the schools, working closely with schools to make sure that this genuinely is the heart of North Melbourne,” commented Ms Pike.

“The reaching out that's happened already, the connection with particularly some of our multicultural groups in the community has just been absolutely outstanding. We know that young people's lives are going to be turned around in this place.”

“Kids that need extra support are going to find a home here, they're going to find support here, they're going to find a community that wants them here and the North Melbourne Football Club is to be congratulated.”

Click here to view photos from the Arden Street launch

Click here to view 2010 membership packages