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 third player on the list is Michael Firrito.
When Glenn Archer retired at the end of 2007, the fate of the famous number 11 created much discussion.
The next recipient would have to demonstrate the values which made Archer such a feared and respected opponent and the ultimate teammate.
That person was Michael Firrito.
“He received the ultimate accolade, by Glenn Archer, Shinboner of the Century, handing his number and jumper down when (Archer) retired,” Anthony Stevens explained.
“The way he attacks the ball, the way he puts pressure on, the one-percenters, is what he does to a tee.”
Firrito is now in his 10th season wearing the famous number 11 – the only player to wear it for more games is none other than Archer himself.
Initially selected in the Rookie Draft, only a handful of players in the AFL have made more than Firrito’s 263 appearances.
“Around the football club, the smile of Mick Firrito sums up what this football club is,” Stevens said.
“Excellence is everything he’s about, and that’s what a Shinboner is in my eyes.”
Previously
Candidate #1: Drew Petrie
Candidate #2: Brady Rawlings
Book your tickets to A Celebration of Shinboner Spirit
