North's greatest number
'What is the best jumper number in North Melbourne history?'
The Herald Sun's Glenn McFarlane posed the question: 'What is the best jumper number in North Melbourne history?'
A few royal blue and white jumpers with a rich history include Wayne Carey's 18, Glenn Archer's 11, Keith Greig's 27 and Wayne Schimmelbusch's 20.
Refresh your memory with this list of Shinboners and have your say in our poll below.
4 - worn by Ross Glendinning, Mick Martyn, Sam Kekovich
Ross Glendinning won a Brownlow Medal in 1983 in the number four jumper for North. The key position player managed 190 games for the Roos from 1978-86 before returning to his home state to play in the West Coast Eagles' inaugural team in 1987. Unfortunately Glendinning missed out on a VFL-AFL premiership during his career, but Mick Martyn managed two flags in his career wearing the number four. Martyn played 290 games at Arden Street before finishing his career at Carlton in 2003. Sam Kekovich won the Syd Barker medal in 1969 and played in the 1975 Premiership before becoming a successful media personality/lamb ambassador in his post football career.
11 - Glenn Archer, Michael Firrito
Shinboner of the Century Glenn Archer had an inspirational career in the number eleven. Archer wore it throughout his 16 seasons at Arden Street, playing a record 311 games at the time. When Archer retired, Michael Firrito inherited the guernsey and has worn it with pride since then, adopting a tough and courageous playing style similar to Archer.
18 - Wayne Carey, Jock McCorkell, Paul Feltham
One of the greatest AFL players of all time, Wayne Carey had a significant impact on North during his career in the number 18. The two-time premiership captain kicked 671 goals in his 244 games in the royal blue and white. Carey is still lauded today as one of the best full-forwards. Full-back Jock McCorkell played 167 games from 1940-42 and 1946-53 and won the Syd Barker medal in 1952. Paul Feltham was a member of North's first premiership in 1975; the winger/midfielder played 128 games.
27 - Keith Greig, Laurie Dwyer, Darren Crocker
There isn't much that Keith Greig didn't do while wearing the number 27 in his career at the Roos. He won two back-to-back Brownlow Medals
(1973-74), a Syd Barker medal (1980), a premiership (1975), captained the side (1976-79), played and captained Victoria and was named AFL Team of the Century wingman. From 1956-1970, Laurie Dwyer was an outstanding and memorable player for the club in his 201 games from 1956-70. He was named on the opposite wing to Greig in North Melbourne's Team of the Century. Darren Crocker has been an influential person at the Kangaroos for many years in a number of different roles. He played 165 games from 1985-98, including the 1996 flag and is still at Arden Street as an assistant coach.
29 - Brent Harvey, Peter German, Michael Gaudion, Phil Baker
When Brent Harvey arrived almost 20 years ago, the skinny 17-year old was handed the number 29 which already possessed a considerable history. Three hundred and seventy nine games later, Harvey has made this number his own and possibly turned it into one of the most famous and
celebrated numbers in North's history. The games record holder played in the 1999 Premiership, won five Syd Barker medals, four-time All-Australian and the accolades continue as the 36-year old approaches a potential 400 games milestone in 2015. Prior to 'Boomer', Peter German wore the number in 185 games from 1984-94. Michael Gaudion notched up 152 from 1957-67 and Phil "Snake" Baker played 97 games wearing the 29, including the 1977 premiership.