On the Gold Coast for the first time since rejecting the AFL’s offer to re-locate to the tourist strip, a wary Kangaroos outfit took to the field expecting a barrage of boos.

They needn’t have bothered.

If there were any locals angry about the North Melbourne’s decision to remain at Arden St, they simply made their opinion clear by staying at home.

Although well below the 10,000 the AFL had hoped for, it was a healthy crowd of 6,354 that greeted the Kangaroos with polite applause as they ran through the banner and raucous cheers when they triumphed over the Eagles in a stirring six-point victory.

Margaret Saunders, 50, and friend Hugh Passand, 52, said they had made a special trip north to ensure the players would see some friendly faces in the crowd.

“This is the first time we’ve been to the Gold Coast, we’ve been to Canberra before, but we kind of thought they needed our support,” she said.

North fan Dean Stanley, 36, who moved up from Melbourne nine months ago, was also in support on the night but, like some, rued the team may have lost a golden opportunity in deciding to snub the Coast.

“I’m happy to see a new team here, but I wanted to come up and see the Kangaroos on the Gold Coast in their own right,” he said.

“I don’t think we’re going to fold, but … how are we going to sustain support over the next couple of years?”

It was a sentiment shared by Rod McCulloch, 46, a North supporter for 34 years despite being based on the Coast, who doubted whether his beloved `Roos had a future.

“If they can stay based in Melbourne then good luck, but they are not the biggest supported club in the league,” he said.

The `Roos are even less likely to gain support on the Gold Coast after coach Dean Laidley’s forceful post-match swipe at local AFL fans.

“We did what we needed to do for our supporters back home … the performance was for them, not for anyone here,” he said.

“We couldn’t have cared less if there was no-one here.”

North Melbourne are scheduled to play another two games at Gold Coast Stadium this season.

© AAP 2012

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