Kangaroos’ ‘shinboner spirit’ is back

LONG-TIME North Melbourne powerbroker Peter de Rauch says the Shinboner spirit has returned to Arden St “after a 12-year hiatus”.

De Rauch, a fierce critic of the club’s direction under former chairman James Brayshaw, said a cleanout of the Kangaroos’ senior football and administrative positions had been transformative.

“You could feel the passion in the room again,” de Rauch said of last week’s season launch attended by club greats including Wayne Carey, Wayne Schimmelbusch and Anthony Stevens.

“Everyone associated with the club is now convinced we have a club that can and will succeed.

“North needs all members who have felt disenfranchised by the club to return and be part of the rebuild.”

The Kangaroos enter season 2020 with a new coach (Rhyce Shaw), new chief executive (Ben Amarfio) and new football boss (Brady Rawlings), while Glenn Archer, a dual premiership player and key driver behind many of the off-field changes, returned to the Ben Buckley-led board as a casual appointment in December.

Archer and Buckley are seeking re-election at this month’s annual general meeting along with another casual board selection, Dr Sonja Hood, and independent candidate Paul Crapper.

De Rauch said the club’s decision to allow Crapper to nominate was another significant sign.

“The reason the former North Melbourne shareholders gave up their shares was to return the club’s ownership to the members and by doing so, the members had the opportunity to have a say in its direction,” de Rauch said.

“Now at last an independent candidate has been allowed to nominate. He is a lifetime member of our club and highly experienced as a board member with numerous government contacts.”

De Rauch surrendered more than $1 million of club shares to North Melbourne in 2007 and served on the board for almost two decades.

Jack Ziebell will skipper the Roos again this season, backed by vice-captains Shaun Higgins and Robbie Tarrant.

The Roos’ AGM will be held at Arden St on February 26.