westdog54
25-04-2016, 02:04 PM
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/north-melbourne-v-western-bulldogs-north-ceo-carl-dilena-urges-fans-to-prove-small-clubs-deserve-big-games-20160424-godvbj.html
North Melbourne chief executive Carl Dilena has urged Kangaroos and Western Bulldogs fans to descend on Etihad Stadium on Friday night to show the AFL that lower-profile clubs should be considered for more marquee games.
As lowly Collingwood and Essendon prepared to clash on Anzac Day, the Roos and Dogs were looking ahead to their primetime date, in which they will square off for top position.
North are undefeated through five rounds, sitting atop the ladder, while the Dogs are second, having lost only to Hawthorn in round three.
The two clubs have met 19 times at Docklands, but never drawn more than 37,299 across those meetings.
But Dilena was looking to top that mark, set in round 22 last year. "We'd really love to get 40 [thousand] plus," Dilena said.
"It's prime time, Friday night, [and the] Doggies are up and about."
North have five Friday night games this year, and the Bulldogs have three, but Dilena said this was a particularly good opportunity for both clubs to push for further chances on the biggest stage of the week.
"I think it's really positive that we've got two Victorian clubs with the chance to play a real blockbuster. It's a real opportunity for us to make a bold statement to the AFL that we can do blockbusters just as well as anyone else in the competition.
"I think that's very important for both clubs in terms of fixturing going forward."
North have beaten Adelaide, the Brisbane Lions, Melbourne, Fremantle and Gold Coast thus far in 2016, with a more challenging stretch later in the year. Dilena, who was appointed to his post late in 2012, suggested there was still plenty of room for improvement.
"It's huge at the moment. It's great to be sitting five and zip.
"I was hopeful of a very strong start, because we've got a tough fixture, probably one of the toughest fixtures in the league this year, so it was very important that we got off to a good start."
North Melbourne have passed 40,500 members, and are striving for 45,000. Dilena was keen to spruik that this was the time for lapsed members to re-sign.
"With North sitting five and zip and on top of the ladder, what are you waiting for?"
Kangaroos veteran Nick Dal Santo agreed with Dilena that the Roos were yet to play their best football.
"I think we are slowly improving. The first month of footy we were winning the games, but weren't playing overly well," Dal Santo told the club's website after Saturday's win over the Suns.
"Definitely in those four games there were some passages that nearly killed us, and we nearly lost because of those things.
"I actually thought tonight was a pretty good, consistent four-quarter effort."
North have overcome indifferent starts to the last two seasons to make preliminary finals, but the former St Kilda midfielder said it was vital to make early inroads.
"It's only early days, but it's really nice to be on the winning side of the ledger at this stage.
"Previous years we've been chasing our tails a little bit and really had to fight for it."
Dal Santo had 28 disposals against the Suns, and said he was pleased with his form so far in 2016.
"I've been happy with it from a different point of view," he said. "I don't think I've had a lot of the footy, but I'm just trying to complement those blokes who are playing a lot more inside, doing the majority of the bulk of the work.
"I've played a lot more on the wing, probably last year and the first five games this year.
"I'm actually really enjoying the role. I'm being flicked around a little bit, which means I have to be across all positions."
North Melbourne chief executive Carl Dilena has urged Kangaroos and Western Bulldogs fans to descend on Etihad Stadium on Friday night to show the AFL that lower-profile clubs should be considered for more marquee games.
As lowly Collingwood and Essendon prepared to clash on Anzac Day, the Roos and Dogs were looking ahead to their primetime date, in which they will square off for top position.
North are undefeated through five rounds, sitting atop the ladder, while the Dogs are second, having lost only to Hawthorn in round three.
The two clubs have met 19 times at Docklands, but never drawn more than 37,299 across those meetings.
But Dilena was looking to top that mark, set in round 22 last year. "We'd really love to get 40 [thousand] plus," Dilena said.
"It's prime time, Friday night, [and the] Doggies are up and about."
North have five Friday night games this year, and the Bulldogs have three, but Dilena said this was a particularly good opportunity for both clubs to push for further chances on the biggest stage of the week.
"I think it's really positive that we've got two Victorian clubs with the chance to play a real blockbuster. It's a real opportunity for us to make a bold statement to the AFL that we can do blockbusters just as well as anyone else in the competition.
"I think that's very important for both clubs in terms of fixturing going forward."
North have beaten Adelaide, the Brisbane Lions, Melbourne, Fremantle and Gold Coast thus far in 2016, with a more challenging stretch later in the year. Dilena, who was appointed to his post late in 2012, suggested there was still plenty of room for improvement.
"It's huge at the moment. It's great to be sitting five and zip.
"I was hopeful of a very strong start, because we've got a tough fixture, probably one of the toughest fixtures in the league this year, so it was very important that we got off to a good start."
North Melbourne have passed 40,500 members, and are striving for 45,000. Dilena was keen to spruik that this was the time for lapsed members to re-sign.
"With North sitting five and zip and on top of the ladder, what are you waiting for?"
Kangaroos veteran Nick Dal Santo agreed with Dilena that the Roos were yet to play their best football.
"I think we are slowly improving. The first month of footy we were winning the games, but weren't playing overly well," Dal Santo told the club's website after Saturday's win over the Suns.
"Definitely in those four games there were some passages that nearly killed us, and we nearly lost because of those things.
"I actually thought tonight was a pretty good, consistent four-quarter effort."
North have overcome indifferent starts to the last two seasons to make preliminary finals, but the former St Kilda midfielder said it was vital to make early inroads.
"It's only early days, but it's really nice to be on the winning side of the ledger at this stage.
"Previous years we've been chasing our tails a little bit and really had to fight for it."
Dal Santo had 28 disposals against the Suns, and said he was pleased with his form so far in 2016.
"I've been happy with it from a different point of view," he said. "I don't think I've had a lot of the footy, but I'm just trying to complement those blokes who are playing a lot more inside, doing the majority of the bulk of the work.
"I've played a lot more on the wing, probably last year and the first five games this year.
"I'm actually really enjoying the role. I'm being flicked around a little bit, which means I have to be across all positions."