Atu Bosenavulagi will become Shinboner #1035 when he pulls on the royal blue and white stripes against Geelong this Sunday.

Bosenavulagi joined North Melbourne in the 2020 trade period, after three games for Collingwood that season.

The Kangaroos’ number 15 has been impressive in recent VFL practice matches, utilising his pace and power in a defensive role, after mainly playing as a forward in his early career.

Bosenavulagi’s shutdown role on Mitch Wallis two weeks ago caught the eye of VFL coach Leigh Adams.

“Last week he played on a couple of really nippy forwards and did a great job, then this week he did a great job locking down a very good player in Wallis,” Adams told North Media at the time.

Bosenavulagi will be the eighth new face to represent North in 2021.