Real, Bold, Belonging, and Never Beaten; the four values that encompass North Melbourne’s famous “Shinboner” Spirit.

Embraced by past and present players, it’s a non-tangible ethos that has been continually evolving over the past 150 years, and one that now encompasses the inaugural women’s team.

“Belonging”, being the value that has deeply resonated among the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos' playing group.

“When you walk in the doors you don’t feel out of place. It is a big family and community feel,” AFLW star Emma King told AFLPlayers.com.au.

The doors that King refers to are not just any doors, but part of the multi-million dollar Arden Street redevelopment, which was fast-tracked to welcome the women's team into the club. 

The new women’s changerooms are identical to the men’s in almost every aspect; with new lockers, crisp lettering on the lockers and the Roos' logo emblazoned on the floor for all to see. 

“We were quite taken aback with the amount of effort and work that had gone in over the break to have everything ready. It made us feel really quiet at home,” Tasmanian recruit Nicole Bresnahan said. 

Besides the facilities, the dedication to at all levels of the club to embrace the team has paid off.

One of six Roos based in Tasmania, Bresnahan notes that the sense of belonging resounds through the southernmost contingent.

“We always feel really included,” she said.

“We’ve never gone longer than a week without someone coming to us or going over to Melbourne which has been absolutely phenomenal.

“You can tell the club thought through it all really well before [the team] was established.”

Part of the process in making the athletes feel welcome was support from the AFL players, with some advice from stars Jack Ziebell and Jamie Macmillan proving invaluable.

“They gave us some insights into the men’s program and how we can bring that into our program and gain some success on and off the field,” King said.

“It resides in both teams that we want to keep that ‘Shinboner Spirit’ which is filtering through to the playing group.

“We’re starting from scratch so if we can buy in early that is going to help us on and off the field and into the future.”

Through the training programs, club culture, and new facilities, 30 new Shinboners have embraced the North Melbourne way.

“We know that as much as we buy into it is as much as we are going to get out it,” King added.