What is the most North club of other sports?

[3051]

Current Houston Rockets has scary North Melbourne-vibes, but also some parallels since the 90s:

• Rockets were essentially top 4 in 2015 and 2018. North was top 4 in 2014 and 2015.
• Both teams bottomed out after that era - Rockets were a top-3 worst team from 2021 to 2023. North from 2020 to 2024.
• 2023-24 Rockets, flush with young talent, reload with veterans in the hope of them bringing a winning culture (Brooks, Van Fleet, Jeff Green), and a coach with winning pedigree (Ime Udoka). 2025 North, now flush with young talent, reload with veterans (Darling, Daniel, Parker), and hired a coach with winning pedigree in 2023 (Clarko).
• Going back further into history, the two teams even won championships/premierships twice in the 90s.

This current Rockets halted its terrible losing seasons last season, finishing 41-41, challenging for the playoffs throughout the season but eventually missing out. This season, they've made another leap in progress, currently 2nd in the West with a 15-6 record. On track to make the playoffs since 2019-20.

Let's hope North Melbourne have a similar trajectory to the Rockets - challenging or even making a surprise finals appearance this year, but certainly 'rocket' up the ladder from 2026 onwards.

 

[speedy]

My NFL team ‘da bears’ is doing a great impersonation of the Roos.

Gone through 5 coaches in the last decade or so, plenty of early draft picks, including 2 no.1’s (one which they traded) and are finding all sorts of new ways to lose games atm.

Best uniform in the NFL too. The only difference is they got a big supporter base.

 

[Arthur Cloke]

The Adelaide Silverbees in the SANFLW. Loyal fans. Small budget. Punch above their weight. Have been bottom 2 for the last 7-8 years......

 

[Bojan KantKick]

The Wallabies. Great in the 90s. Occasional good runs in 2010s but no real chance of going all the way. Financial shitshow who wildly overpays to attract players. Also have their own set of white knights but these guys pay up. Best player forced out due to off field transgressions.

 

[Chadwiko]

My NFL team ‘da bears’ is doing a great impersonation of the Roos.
...
Best uniform in the NFL too.

 

[Mixed Results]

The best comparison I can come up with is the Cincinnati Reds.

I feel that it had to be an MLB team due to the disadvantages faced by the smaller teams as well as the many years of history tied to non-expansion clubs. Football/Soccer was another consideration, but relegation doesn't quite allow teams to lose year after year the way other professional leagues do.

The more I thought about it, the stronger I felt about the Cincinnati Reds being the closest professional team to North Melbourne.

Their history extends back to their formation in 1869, and they have won five world series (none since the 90s), and excluding the COVID season, which had modified/easier qualifying rules, haven't made finals since 2013.

Cincinnati made the playoffs once between 1940 and 1969, but then overcame the odds to become the team of the 70s, led by one of the most talented lineups in sports history.

North Melbourne obviously had a similar rags to riches climb to success in that era, and names like Keith Greig, David Dench, and Malcolm Blight, would be the equivalents of Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, and Johnny Bench. The Big Red Machine and The Shinboners have a ton of similarities in that era.

Cincinnati won a World Series in the 90s, led by Hall of Fame great Barry Larkin, but their success in that era doesn't come close to ours. They however have, like North Melbourne, done absolutely nothing of note since.

If you need further convincing, they also hosted MLB's first night game, which is part of their proud history of innovation.

 

[King Corey]

Meath won All-Ireland titles in 1996 and 1999 and have been pants ever since.

Sound familiar? :sternlook