When Drew Petrie landed awkwardly after a mark in the third quarter on Saturday night, it looked like his night might be over.

Struggling to walk and forced to the bench, Petrie was in obvious pain.

But like Glenn Archer and Anthony Stevens before him, the North Melbourne veteran is a Shinboner.

Clearly battered and bruised, he returned to the field, desperate to will his team over the line. Then, his moment arrived.

Midway through the last quarter, he showed little care for his own safety, diving into a contest against an oncoming Sydney opponent.

He came off second best after a knock, forced to the bench again to get bandaged up, before getting back out to finish the game.

But his job was done. His courage was enough to inspire his teammates to victory.

For Luke McDonald, it was a moment that illustrated all the traits of a Shinboner.

“I was almost one of the first on the scene and it was just so good,” Luke McDonald told NMFC.com.au, describing Petrie’s mark.

“When I saw him do that I knew we were going to win, because we were just on.

“He’s such a good leader and does that every week, but this week he drew blood. It was unbelievable.”

It’s acts like Petrie’s that win finals.

“Big Drewy … that contest in the last quarter was outstanding and it just showed that we wanted it a bit more,” fellow vice-captain Jack Ziebell said.

“That contest was game on the line sort of stuff. He’s one bloke you can count on in that situation, which is fantastic.”

The stats sheet isn’t indicative of Petrie’s role in a famous victory, but those around him had little doubt as to his importance.

“Drew’s played nearly 300 games, and he just gives and gives,” Jarrad Waite said.

“He’s just so reliable. He was so good in that first half.

“He just continually wills us. You watch him and he inspires you to play well. He’s just a great teammate to be around.”

And while he’s sure to be nursing a sore body today, as long as he’s wearing a North jumper the veteran will not hesitate to hit the packs, work to exhaustion and put his body on the line next Saturday night.