A chance meeting last week with North Melbourne Kangaroo’s Irish AFLW players lead to me creating this today for the ‘Roos men’s team using the Scottish Gaelic origins of North Melbourne’s theme song:
At the moment the North Melbourne women are the best team in the AFLW competition, whereas the men are beginning to climb the ladder after consecutive wooden spoons in 2021 and 2022.
What can the guys learn from the girls and from Ned?
Geoff Fox , October 17, 2025. West Footscray, Australia
One reason the North Melbourne Football Club women are on top of the ladder underfeated with a percentage of 331.5 is because they work hard at training doing things to make them react quicker than their opponents.
Look at Blaithin Bogue’s brilliant tap into the goalsquare for proof:
And look how Tahlia Randall’s Richmond opponent is left flat-footed by Tahlia’s evasive skills:
This is beautiful.
Geoff Fox, October 13, Melbourne, Australia
One of the reasons North Melbourne is such a strong favourite for this year’s AFLW premiership is the effectiveness of their training.
They engage in lots of match practice and exercises to sharpen their skills and speed.
Yesterday against Essndon at Windy Hill, the Roos overcame a three goal deficit at quarter time to win convinvingly by five goals – an eight goal turnaround.
In the third quarter Tess Craven took possession on the fly leading to a goal against the wind that gave North a crucial nine point lead.
Gaelic football junior champion Blaithin Bogue halted an Essendon attacking thrust with this great tackle:
Best on ground in last year’s Grand Final against Brisbane was veteran Jas Garner. On Friday she kept control of the ball under tackling pressure from Essendon:
Geoff Fox, September 27, Melbourne, Australia
Since I first started following Aussie Rules footy at the age of 9 in 1967, the qualities I have most loved seeing are courage at the contest and skill, speed and flair.
Outstanding players I have seen in this regard are Barry Price, Keith Greig, Robbie Flower, Wayne Schimmelbusch, Garry Ablett Senior, Eddie Betts, The Krakouer brothers and the current Number 5 of the North Melbourne Kangaroos AFLW team, Tess Craven.
As a human being Tess is modest, kind, friendly and helpful and always puts her team ahead of herself. The strength, skill and determination she shows above in tackling a Melbourne opponent about one and a half times her size are awe-inspiring.
What’s not to love?
Geoff Fox, June 8, 2025, Melbourne, Australia
Women are rising in western society in all spheres of life. In the picture above North Melbourne defender and co-vice captian Nicole “Flash” Bresnehan points her fellow players to move forward attacking the goal.
If the rise in women means a rise in misandry, then men should be very very concerned. But if it means better sharing and caring, we will all be better off.
And when it means that football is becoming more beautiful, more collaborative and more impassioned, then I love seeing the shared leadership of women like Flash.
Geoff Fox, 7th June, 2025, Melbourne, Australia
FOOTY FOR FREEDOM 