July 31, 2025 • 8 mins
“I had a great time at the home of the North Melbourne Kangaroos learning all about this celebrated club that might not have all the bells and whistles, but it's got ticker, tradition, togetherness, and heart. I love what this club is about, and the only way is up and looking forward to seeing what the AFLW team can do after winning the flag last season. This is a club I can get behind. Come on the Shinboners!"
- Alex Cullen
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
I heeart podcasts. You can hear more gold one a
four point three podcasts playlist and listen live on the
free iHeart app.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Got anything good? Hey?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
This is the Christian O'Connell show podcast. Can I Alex
Cullen here? I was lucky enough to go down to
Arden Street, the home of the North Melbourne Kangaroos, see
some training, meet the players, and I also sat down
with GM of Footy, Todd Viney.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
The only way is up. Eh.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
It's been a couple of tough yews, but I think
we've seen some good sciences here. You know, we've been
much more consistent for lots of lots of the games
in the game at three quarters time, but we haven't
quite been able to put enough four core efforts together.
But you know, we've had some promising signs. You know,
you drew with Brisbane and who was a top team
(01:03):
of one of the contenders for this year. So there's
lots of positives for us, but we want.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Us to more.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
For sure, it's got a click soon, it does like
it's just amount of time.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
We've been working hard.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
For two years, a lot of heavy lifting and the
club is in a really good position with the board
and the execs. We're all united, all on the same page,
which is a big part of it. I've got some
really exciting talent on the field, young and old, and
some guys have been there for a while. So now
it's amount of just consolidating game plan and performances and
(01:38):
start to get some traction with more.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
More wings and hopefully that coming sooner rather than later. Yeah, yeah,
just keep working hard. Just a good young list.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
I love this club.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
I love where it is. I love sort of here,
you know, a bit.
Speaker 6 (01:51):
Of an industry around, you know, not the big flash
Collingwood bells and whistles.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
It's just a real heart land club. I love it.
It is, so it's real. It's got a lot of
grid about it. Supprise follow us are very loyal. They
keep turning up, you know.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
If you go out, if we go out on the
ground little bit later and you look at that back
that way, you see the city skyline.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
So it is a good spot.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
You know.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
We're right in the heart of Melbourne. This is where
the Kangaroos have always played, you know. So there's lots
of history here. Facilities a lot better than they were
twenty years ago, ten years ago, so we're pretty lucky.
But this is a lot of history is happening on
this ground.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
So good and you got what's the shin bones, isn't it?
Why is it called the shin bones?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Again, Well, there's lots of different stories.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
But this lot used to be a lot of meat
works in the industry, a lot of butcher shops and
sale yards, and the stories go back back in the
early days that on the Saturday the butchers would have
shin bones from their cattle hanging in the windows and
nudg wrapple streamers around the shin bones, and the players
(03:02):
and the supporters we're going to game and going past,
you know, the blon and white streamers on shinbones. So
that was part of the part of the story. But
depending on who you speak that, there's lots of different reasons,
but there's you know, we talk about shimboner attitude and
just showing a real grit and determination, never beaten, try
and find a way and over the journey, even off
(03:25):
field of the clubs.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
I've tried to move the club a couple of times.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
And the North Melbourne Faith have said, no, we're not
moving anywhere. We're going to stay here. So there's a
real fighting mentality, real identity. So we've got to try
and keep finding a way on game base to keep
finding a way they winter.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
That's it teages, they're going why don't they flagged last year?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
The Super super team have been very successful on that program.
So Darren crock of the coach and it's player in
the men's program and coach Em McCartney's the captain was captain.
She's just stopped down this year and Jesse Gunn has
taken over as captain. But undefeated last year which is
extraordinary to win the flags. Very strong women's program and
(04:12):
hopefully we can push the back to back to no
other team has done back to back. We shouldn't be
talking about back to Bat's all work to be done,
but you know, we're confidence that we've got another really
good team and program, so hopefully we can go.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Well.
Speaker 6 (04:28):
Definitely, do you reckon you can add one more fan, Todd.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
We're absolutely wrapped to have you one board. And they've
come down.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
From considering to be part of the Melbourne environment and
you've picked a great club.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Something's going to be exciting for you to be part of.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
So see the growth and the talent of some of
these guys as they become superstars.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
So we're wrapped heavy on board.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
And you know, I guess one of your college on
your new show, Christian is Melbourne so well, he'd be
disappointed with how the Demons are going.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
But you've you've definitely picked the right I've picked the
right team to I'm glad to hear that, my friend.
Thank you very much. It's great to be part of it.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
I'm looking forward to it and I I just love
what you guys are about, especially being here and seeing
the facilities, and there's a lot of heart here.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
It's still a lot of marble. Get to meet a
few of the players when you're down and it sounds good.
Good bunch of.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Boys, so I'm sure you can enjoy your enjoying North
Melbourne experience.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Bringing on And I was lucky enough to meet emmacarney.
She's an eight time All Australian was the captain of
the twenty twenty four premiership winning team AFLW superstar Emma Carney.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I like this club.
Speaker 6 (05:38):
I like what it's about. What do you like about it, Emma?
What do you love about it?
Speaker 5 (05:43):
The people? I think that's what makes it special.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
We know that we're not a big club like a
Collingwood or cartinoy Essidon, but we really value the people
and the community. Like you know, we're in the heartland
of North Melbourne here. We haven't changed, so we've got
plenty of history of it. And yeah, the work that
we do within the local community with how people from
multicultural areas and things like that.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
It's also what makes a club really special.
Speaker 6 (06:09):
Oh yeah, as soon as I arrived here, I like
where it is. You know, bit industrial, very.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Well, which is very North Melbourne though it's great. Yeah,
that's what the club is. It's right.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
We go to all the cafes around here and it's
very industrial, like the old factories that have been converted
into new apartments.
Speaker 6 (06:27):
Yeah, there's a lot of hard here.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (06:31):
Yeah, I've only only been here in half an hour
or so and I've picked up on that.
Speaker 5 (06:35):
Well did you say you're from Newcastle.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
Well, my wife is on from a small town in
northwestern South Wales, like three thousand people got a heart there. Yeah,
but it's a small town and I guess with a
this is a club not as big as your Collingwoods,
but you guys have got it all worked out, I reckon.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, definitely, even the way that the building is sort
of built in terms of the footy departments not separate
from the events team and the membership team and things
like that.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
So we're all all went it together.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
Which is nice'srugg And what about the afl W team,
I mean flag last year?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Yeah, looking this year, Yeah, we're looking pretty strong. We've
added some depth to earlist. So I had a one
practice match with another one this weekend. So slowly build.
We don't want to get two ahead of ourselves. Obviously
become the hunted now.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
So that's it.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
All the other teams, we've got to try to go
to your level and we've.
Speaker 5 (07:31):
Got to try to go to another level. That's it,
counteract it. So now looking forward to getting underway again.
Yeah bad.
Speaker 6 (07:37):
It's a it's a great a club here. I mean
you dominated right North Melbourne AFLW dominated.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
Yeah yeah yeah for a while. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, we've been pretty successful since we came to the
company twenty nineteen and then undefeated season last year. The
only blemish was a draw against Geelong. Yeah, I know
we've let ourselves down there.
Speaker 6 (07:59):
Oh you let yourself, You let the club down. I
mean seriously amazing, and you've been a massive part of that.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
Skipper Yeah, yep, yep. Handed the reins over those this year.
So Jazz gan do her thing player so she'll be.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Able to leave the club less responsibility exactly, less stress,
more freedom exactly, don't have to think about the pregame
speech and all the other stuff that goes along with it.
But nah, be good just to just to be a players.
Speaker 5 (08:30):
It's it's a great club.
Speaker 6 (08:32):
And do you think you can fit one more fan in?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
I reckon, we've got room, considering you've got the blue
and the white.
Speaker 5 (08:40):
You've been strategic there with your outseat. I reckon to
thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Definitely one more fan, and then obviously you've got your
family too that we can also add them to the
list as well.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
I would say it sounds good.
Speaker 6 (08:53):
I've got twins, a lot of twins playing for this club.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
You're a twins.
Speaker 5 (08:58):
It's fate, so match made in heaven.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
The Christian O'Connell Show podcast
I heeart podcasts. You can hear more gold one a
four point three podcasts playlist and listen live on the
free iHeart app.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Got anything good? Hey?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
This is the Christian O'Connell show podcast. Can I Alex
Cullen here? I was lucky enough to go down to
Arden Street, the home of the North Melbourne Kangaroos, see
some training, meet the players, and I also sat down
with GM of Footy, Todd Viney.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
The only way is up. Eh.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
It's been a couple of tough yews, but I think
we've seen some good sciences here. You know, we've been
much more consistent for lots of lots of the games
in the game at three quarters time, but we haven't
quite been able to put enough four core efforts together.
But you know, we've had some promising signs. You know,
you drew with Brisbane and who was a top team
(01:03):
of one of the contenders for this year. So there's
lots of positives for us, but we want.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Us to more.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
For sure, it's got a click soon, it does like
it's just amount of time.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
We've been working hard.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
For two years, a lot of heavy lifting and the
club is in a really good position with the board
and the execs. We're all united, all on the same page,
which is a big part of it. I've got some
really exciting talent on the field, young and old, and
some guys have been there for a while. So now
it's amount of just consolidating game plan and performances and
(01:38):
start to get some traction with more.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
More wings and hopefully that coming sooner rather than later. Yeah, yeah,
just keep working hard. Just a good young list.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
I love this club.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
I love where it is. I love sort of here,
you know, a bit.
Speaker 6 (01:51):
Of an industry around, you know, not the big flash
Collingwood bells and whistles.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
It's just a real heart land club. I love it.
It is, so it's real. It's got a lot of
grid about it. Supprise follow us are very loyal. They
keep turning up, you know.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
If you go out, if we go out on the
ground little bit later and you look at that back
that way, you see the city skyline.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
So it is a good spot.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
You know.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
We're right in the heart of Melbourne. This is where
the Kangaroos have always played, you know. So there's lots
of history here. Facilities a lot better than they were
twenty years ago, ten years ago, so we're pretty lucky.
But this is a lot of history is happening on
this ground.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
So good and you got what's the shin bones, isn't it?
Why is it called the shin bones?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Again, Well, there's lots of different stories.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
But this lot used to be a lot of meat
works in the industry, a lot of butcher shops and
sale yards, and the stories go back back in the
early days that on the Saturday the butchers would have
shin bones from their cattle hanging in the windows and
nudg wrapple streamers around the shin bones, and the players
(03:02):
and the supporters we're going to game and going past,
you know, the blon and white streamers on shinbones. So
that was part of the part of the story. But
depending on who you speak that, there's lots of different reasons,
but there's you know, we talk about shimboner attitude and
just showing a real grit and determination, never beaten, try
and find a way and over the journey, even off
(03:25):
field of the clubs.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
I've tried to move the club a couple of times.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
And the North Melbourne Faith have said, no, we're not
moving anywhere. We're going to stay here. So there's a
real fighting mentality, real identity. So we've got to try
and keep finding a way on game base to keep
finding a way they winter.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
That's it teages, they're going why don't they flagged last year?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
The Super super team have been very successful on that program.
So Darren crock of the coach and it's player in
the men's program and coach Em McCartney's the captain was captain.
She's just stopped down this year and Jesse Gunn has
taken over as captain. But undefeated last year which is
extraordinary to win the flags. Very strong women's program and
(04:12):
hopefully we can push the back to back to no
other team has done back to back. We shouldn't be
talking about back to Bat's all work to be done,
but you know, we're confidence that we've got another really
good team and program, so hopefully we can go.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Well.
Speaker 6 (04:28):
Definitely, do you reckon you can add one more fan, Todd.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
We're absolutely wrapped to have you one board. And they've
come down.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
From considering to be part of the Melbourne environment and
you've picked a great club.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Something's going to be exciting for you to be part of.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
So see the growth and the talent of some of
these guys as they become superstars.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
So we're wrapped heavy on board.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
And you know, I guess one of your college on
your new show, Christian is Melbourne so well, he'd be
disappointed with how the Demons are going.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
But you've you've definitely picked the right I've picked the
right team to I'm glad to hear that, my friend.
Thank you very much. It's great to be part of it.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
I'm looking forward to it and I I just love
what you guys are about, especially being here and seeing
the facilities, and there's a lot of heart here.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
It's still a lot of marble. Get to meet a
few of the players when you're down and it sounds good.
Good bunch of.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Boys, so I'm sure you can enjoy your enjoying North
Melbourne experience.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Bringing on And I was lucky enough to meet emmacarney.
She's an eight time All Australian was the captain of
the twenty twenty four premiership winning team AFLW superstar Emma Carney.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I like this club.
Speaker 6 (05:38):
I like what it's about. What do you like about it, Emma?
What do you love about it?
Speaker 5 (05:43):
The people? I think that's what makes it special.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
We know that we're not a big club like a
Collingwood or cartinoy Essidon, but we really value the people
and the community. Like you know, we're in the heartland
of North Melbourne here. We haven't changed, so we've got
plenty of history of it. And yeah, the work that
we do within the local community with how people from
multicultural areas and things like that.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
It's also what makes a club really special.
Speaker 6 (06:09):
Oh yeah, as soon as I arrived here, I like
where it is. You know, bit industrial, very.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Well, which is very North Melbourne though it's great. Yeah,
that's what the club is. It's right.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
We go to all the cafes around here and it's
very industrial, like the old factories that have been converted
into new apartments.
Speaker 6 (06:27):
Yeah, there's a lot of hard here.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (06:31):
Yeah, I've only only been here in half an hour
or so and I've picked up on that.
Speaker 5 (06:35):
Well did you say you're from Newcastle.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
Well, my wife is on from a small town in
northwestern South Wales, like three thousand people got a heart there. Yeah,
but it's a small town and I guess with a
this is a club not as big as your Collingwoods,
but you guys have got it all worked out, I reckon.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, definitely, even the way that the building is sort
of built in terms of the footy departments not separate
from the events team and the membership team and things
like that.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
So we're all all went it together.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
Which is nice'srugg And what about the afl W team,
I mean flag last year?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Yeah, looking this year, Yeah, we're looking pretty strong. We've
added some depth to earlist. So I had a one
practice match with another one this weekend. So slowly build.
We don't want to get two ahead of ourselves. Obviously
become the hunted now.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
So that's it.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
All the other teams, we've got to try to go
to your level and we've.
Speaker 5 (07:31):
Got to try to go to another level. That's it,
counteract it. So now looking forward to getting underway again.
Yeah bad.
Speaker 6 (07:37):
It's a it's a great a club here. I mean
you dominated right North Melbourne AFLW dominated.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
Yeah yeah yeah for a while. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, we've been pretty successful since we came to the
company twenty nineteen and then undefeated season last year. The
only blemish was a draw against Geelong. Yeah, I know
we've let ourselves down there.
Speaker 6 (07:59):
Oh you let yourself, You let the club down. I
mean seriously amazing, and you've been a massive part of that.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
Skipper Yeah, yep, yep. Handed the reins over those this year.
So Jazz gan do her thing player so she'll be.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Able to leave the club less responsibility exactly, less stress,
more freedom exactly, don't have to think about the pregame
speech and all the other stuff that goes along with it.
But nah, be good just to just to be a players.
Speaker 5 (08:30):
It's it's a great club.
Speaker 6 (08:32):
And do you think you can fit one more fan in?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
I reckon, we've got room, considering you've got the blue
and the white.
Speaker 5 (08:40):
You've been strategic there with your outseat. I reckon to
thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Definitely one more fan, and then obviously you've got your
family too that we can also add them to the
list as well.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
I would say it sounds good.
Speaker 6 (08:53):
I've got twins, a lot of twins playing for this club.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
You're a twins.
Speaker 5 (08:58):
It's fate, so match made in heaven.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
The Christian O'Connell Show podcast
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