At North Melbourne’s A Celebration of Shinboner Spirit mid-season event, the club will announce the Shinboner of the Era for 2005-2015.
Earlier this year, a Shinboner of the Era selection committee was formed, with key officials nominating five North Melbourne players who they believed best typified what it meant to be a Shinboner.
Over the next five weeks, each candidate will be revealed one-by-one. Once the five names have been made public, North Melbourne members will then have their chance to select who they believe is the Shinboner of the Era.
The first player on the list is Drew Petrie.
“He’s a true legend of this Club and typifies what the Shinboner Spirit is all about.”
They’re the words of Anthony Stevens on Drew Petrie, an opinion which carries great weight on everything about North Melbourne.
Over Petrie’s 302 games and counting, the 33-year-old has played in just about every key position on the field. From the backline to the ruck and now permanently as a forward, he’s been invaluable for the club.
For Stevens, it was one key moment which defined Petrie.
“I remember Glenn Archer’s 300th game when Drew kicked six goals in the first quarter; that was the beginning of Drew Petrie’s football career and the making of the superstar that he is today.
As a five-time club leading goal kicker, Petrie has played a key role in many of North’s big wins in his career.
But just as important to the man, is how he contributes off the field.
“What Drew typifies as a Shinboner is his ultimate professionalism towards everything that he does,” Stevens explained.
“From playing, to training, to the community, to giving back and understanding what the supporters mean to the football club.
“He’s the last guy off the track in every training session.”
Perhaps the ultimate compliment to be paid towards Petrie is his selflessness.
“His goal is to make this football club a successful football club and win its fifth Premiership, and that typifies what North Melbourne is to him, and what a Shinboner he is.
“I absolutely love the guy.”
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