North Melbourne’s venture into WA has been an early success, but coach Alastair Clarkson says they would love nothing more than to have the same MCG “gifts” Collingwood receive.
The Kangaroos have played at seven different stadiums over the past nine matches – a hectic schedule that even Collingwood star Scott Pendlebury can’t help but laugh about.
Alastair Clarkson in Bunbury, where the Kangaroos have played two “home” games.Credit: Getty Images
The Kangaroos finished their two-week stint in Western Australia with a brave six-point loss to Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
A week earlier, North Melbourne beat West Coast by 10 points in Bunbury – a coastal town about two hours south of Perth.
The two matches in WA were technically North Melbourne home games.
It’s part of a three-year deal worth about $7.5m in which North Melbourne will ‘host’ two games a season in Perth.
The Kangaroos agreed to the deal given their current contract with playing games in Tasmania is winding down. As one of the poorest clubs in Victoria, selling games is a necessary evil.
Over their past nine matches, North Melbourne have played at Marvel Stadium (three times), Barossa Park, Adelaide Oval, Ninja Stadium, the MCG, Hands Oval and Optus Stadium.
It’s in stark contrast to Collingwood, whose huge crowd-pulling power means they are often scheduled to play at the MCG and rarely have to travel interstate compared to other sides.
In Collingwood’s fixture this year, 14 of their 23 games are at the MCG, and they only have six interstate games – one of which was for Gather Round.
The MCG on Anzac Day 2025.Credit: Getty
It’s no wonder Pendlebury had a chuckle with North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson when they crossed paths recently.
“It’s funny. I ran into Scotty Pendlebury, I was on the same plane when I came back from the Hall of Fame on Wednesday,” Clarkson said.
“Anyway, he was laughing about the amount that we’ve had to travel, compared to the gifts that they get playing at the MCG on a regular basis.
“I’d like to be like the Pies and just play at the MCG most weeks.
“But the Collingwood side are able to generate their revenue from their crowds and their opportunities.
“They get to play at the MCG and North aren’t in that position at this current time. So we need to get on the road and play our games [in] Tassie, [or] in this case WA.
