North Melbourne is not prepared to lose the marquee Good Friday game despite yet another shellacking on national TV at the hands of the Western Bulldogs, according to coach David Noble.
Despite a gallant second quarter from Noble’s side, the match was virtually over at quarter-time when the Bulldogs held a 45-point lead after an eight-goal-to-one first quarter.
The 68-point loss at the hands of the Bulldogs follows a 128-point loss in the same fixture last season, prompting questions over whether another club should be handed a spot in the match in place of the Kangaroos.
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However, Noble hit back at such suggestions after the match, saying the Kangaroos “expect to play in this game every year” despite their poor performances.
“As a whole club, it’s not just about the game. Between us and the Bulldogs in the last six or seven years, we’ve worked really hard to make this a marquee game,” he said.
Noble also took a thinly-veiled shot at rival clubs who have retained marquee fixtures despite being on the end of similar scorelines.
“If you go back and have a look at the history of our marquee games previously, there are a lot of other clubs that haven’t actually hit the mark on those marquee games,” he said.
“Over a period of time they’re able to wrestle things together and improve their performance and therefore those marquee games hold.
“We’re fighting tooth and nail on this game. We love this game, we’re very privileged to play in this game, but we would not expect to lose this game.
“I just want to make it clear from our club’s perspective, we expect to play in this game every year.
“We’re making it a marquee game. We understand and love the significance of it, but it’s a whole club aspect, it’s not just about (the game). I understand today’s a big piece of it, but it’s a bit broader than that.
“We do a lot of work behind the scenes as a club to support the Royal Children’s Hospital and Good Friday.”