The history of the North Melbourne Club or Kangaroos club dates back to the year 1869. While officially there is no founder member of this club, it has been accepted that James Henry Gardiner played a major role in the establishment of this club. Initially, the club used to play in Royal Park and in 1877 re-emerged under the banner of Hotham. In 1877, the Kangaroos club played a significant role in the formation of Victorian Football Association. It was in 1903, that the Kangaroos team broke the ice by winning the season matches and thereafter it consecutively won six premierships in 14 seasons. Furthermore, the Kangaroos team won 49 consecutive premiership matches between 1914 and 1919. Although during 1920�s the club did not perform very well, yet it finally got the opportunity to become a member of the Victorian Football League in 1924. In 1925, Kangaroos defeated the Geelong Cats in their first ever League match and acquired the tenth position in the competition. Thereafter the club was faced with a strong financial crisis and it was not before 1945 that North Melbourne Club qualified at the VFL finals.
It was in the 1950�s that the North Melbourne Club played with the title of Kangaroos and registered its first VFL Grand Final victory. For the next fifteen years, the Kangaroos club completely went into oblivion with no final matches ever played during this period. The Kangaroos club again faced defeat till the 1975 early season, after which it bounced back inaction and won 14 matches out of 18, gaining the 3rd position. The revamping of the Kangaroos continued till the 1976, 1977 and 1978 when the club played at the premiership matches. Many new administrative and business strategies were devised during this period and it was again in 1996 that the Kangaroos tasted success. In 1998, the North Melbourne club played its ninth Grand Final and it was the last time it played under the name of North Melbourne. In 1999, the Kangaroos defeated the Carlton in their fourth Grand Final match. In 2001, Kangaroos club won nine games but missed the finals. In 2004, the Kangaroos team again missed the final matches. In 2006 and 2007 the Kangaroos club has gained much media attention and negative publicity but has still maintained its position as one of the leading members of the AFL team.
The Kangaroos team members have won several awards and medals like the Brownlow Medal has been won by Malcolm Blight, Noel Teasdale and Keith Greig. The Norm Smith Medal has been won by Shannon Grant and Glenn Archer, the Coleman Medal has been won by Malcolm Blight and Doug Wade and Leigh Matthews Trophy by Wayne Carrey and Corey McKernan. The leading goal kickers include Wayne Carrey, Sel Murray, John Longmire, Jock Spencer and Bill Findlay among others.
The current captain of the Kangaroos team is Adam Simpson and coach is Dean Laidley. After the 21st season, the Kangaroos club occupies the fifth position in the ladder.
