Their form is ordinary?

They did almost knock off the best side in the comp the other week in a game where Geelong didn't play all that badly.

They were brimming with that old 'spirit' against the competition's laughing stock today, eh Hards ?

More indominable spirirt - I hope we can emulate that in future.

They were brimming with that old 'spirit' against the competition's laughing stock today, eh Hards ?

I'm all for culture and reckon that any Leigh Matthews team would have it in bucket loads, but the Old Shinboner Spirit that supposedly endlessly permeates Arden St is an absolute croc. It's governed by the coaching and playing personnel of the time.

How'd the Lions go yesterday champ?

Culture isn't measured in wins and losses, it's measured in expectations, and you'd be a fool to say that North haven't repeatedly exceeded expectations in recent years.

How'd the Lions go yesterday champ?

Culture isn't measured in wins and losses, it's measured in expectations, and you'd be a fool to say that North haven't repeatedly exceeded expectations in recent years.

What were their expectations this year coming off a prelim last year ? They won't even play finals.

The way you carry on about them you'd swear you were on their payroll.

When they fell apart against Hawthorn there was no mention of shinboner spirit. It only gets mentioned when they win. That's it.

Whether it's true or not is irrelevent. If their players buy into it then it becomes a factor. Clearly they do. Reminds me a bit of the "Queenslander" calls that float around Lang Park up here every origin game. The coaches, past players and QLD media have conjured up this myth that QLD care more than NSW about winning the origin series each year. The QLD players clearly buy into it and it seems even the NSW players become believers. They've won so many games they had no right to and the myth perpetuates.

What were their expectations this year coming off a prelim last year ? They won't even play finals.

Most people said they wouldn't make the finals, you included.

Last time I checked they were still in the eight and had been since about Round 3.

They also beat the Dogs, Collingwood, ran Geelong to two goals and led Hawthorn with 5 minutes to go despite having only two blokes on the bench.

Keep writing them off.

Most people said they wouldn't make the finals, you included.

Last time I checked they were still in the eight and had been since about Round 3.

They also beat the Dogs, Collingwood, ran Geelong to two goals and led Hawthorn with 5 minutes to go despite having only two blokes on the bench.

Keep writing them off.

Yeah well unfortunately for them they're about to drop to 9th thanks to Collingwood's 'blockbuster fatigue'

Most people said they wouldn't make the finals, you included.

Last time I checked they were still in the eight and had been since about Round 3.

I've never discussed their finals prospects. Frankly, the club doesn't interest me. Bland in the extreme.

Last time I checked they weren't in the eight.

Culture isn't measured in wins and losses, it's measured in expectations, and you'd be a fool to say that North haven't repeatedly exceeded expectations in recent years.

And they did today.Again.

Im always impressed that they are all great in the air. One grabbers all the time. I expect them to win pack marks more often than not and I reckon it is unusual.

It is a skill they seem to do better than most.

And they did today.Again.

Im always impressed that they are all great in the air. One grabbers all the time. I expect them to win pack marks more often than not and I reckon it is unusual.

It is a skill they seem to do better than most.

Even Glen Archer said on Footy Classified last monday that he was sick of the talk about Shinboner Spirit, implying it was way overdone. It's a crock.

I'll bump the thread when they're crap again.

Collingwood are the same.

Pump themselves up and knock over the Cats then came up laconically and get knocked off by the blue baggers.

Facts are facts though, they've still have tenfold the onfield success of Melbourne the last 20 years

I'll bump the thread when they're crap again.

That would be next week.

I couldn't help but barrack for North today, against the Tassie- Waverley Hawks, though I feel it's to Melbourne's advantage for North to falter.

Whether it's true or not is irrelevent. If their players buy into it then it becomes a factor. Clearly they do. Reminds me a bit of the "Queenslander" calls that float around Lang Park up here every origin game. The coaches, past players and QLD media have conjured up this myth that QLD care more than NSW about winning the origin series each year. The QLD players clearly buy into it and it seems even the NSW players become believers. They've won so many games they had no right to and the myth perpetuates.

Very true and it is annoying

That would be next week.

Yup. Knew it.

Western Bulldogs are too uneven and inconsistent. Hawthorn have been less than cohesive of recent.

North are the 2nd best team in the AFL at the moment and good on them. Hope they keep it going. Is Hamish MacIntosh as chance to come back?

Western Bulldogs are too uneven and inconsistent. Hawthorn have been less than cohesive of recent.

North are the 2nd best team in the AFL at the moment and good on them. Hope they keep it going. Is Hamish MacIntosh as chance to come back?

Not too sure. The problem with North is that they rely too heavily on their better players to perform every week.The rest of their guys may work well as a team, but they're not good enough collectively to win the flag, particularly if Grant, Harvey, Hale or Wells get injured.

North are good at getting decent performances from theirn 'ordinary' players but don't doubt it - they are star dependent when it comes to getting wins on the board and pushing into finals, and some of those stars are getting on a bit.

Adam Simpson - 32 and 5 months - 13 Brownlow votes last year, similar numbers and effectiveness this year.

Brent Harvey - 30 and 3 months - 22 Brownlow votes last year, doing better in most stats this year!

Shannon Grant - 31 and 3 months - 8 Brownlow votes last year, similar deal this year.

43 brownlow votes for three guys over 30... More than the rest of the team combined, with only Daniel Wells (3rd with 8) stopping the veterans from going 1,2,3 in the team's browlonw count.

It's an engine room many a club would kill for, and I for one don't think they can replace it.

Note that these three guys have barely been scratched in the last ten years, with only two under-20-game seasons between the lot of them since 1999! In fact, in many respects North Melbourne have had an amazing run with injuries for some years, as far as top players are concerned.

North might be in trouble during the Gold Coast/West Sydney drafts. It'll be tough finding a new engine room in a hurry in that environment.

Almost makes me glad we're already playing without the contribution of most of our veteran stars. At least we know we're at our low now and will move up in time to come. (touching wood prolifically right now)

North are good at getting decent performances from theirn 'ordinary' players but don't doubt it - they are star dependent when it comes to getting wins on the board and pushing into finals, and some of those stars are getting on a bit.

Adam Simpson - 32 and 5 months - 13 Brownlow votes last year, similar numbers and effectiveness this year.

Brent Harvey - 30 and 3 months - 22 Brownlow votes last year, doing better in most stats this year!

Shannon Grant - 31 and 3 months - 8 Brownlow votes last year, similar deal this year.

43 brownlow votes for three guys over 30... More than the rest of the team combined, with only Daniel Wells (3rd with 8) stopping the veterans from going 1,2,3 in the team's browlonw count.

It's an engine room many a club would kill for, and I for one don't think they can replace it.

Note that these three guys have barely been scratched in the last ten years, with only two under-20-game seasons between the lot of them since 1999! In fact, in many respects North Melbourne have had an amazing run with injuries for some years, as far as top players are concerned.

North might be in trouble during the Gold Coast/West Sydney drafts. It'll be tough finding a new engine room in a hurry in that environment.

Almost makes me glad we're already playing without the contribution of most of our veteran stars. At least we know we're at our low now and will move up in time to come. (touching wood prolifically right now)

Good analysis. There's no doubting they'll be in trouble in years to come if Wells and others are unable to replace the older stars.

Western Bulldogs are too uneven and inconsistent. Hawthorn have been less than cohesive of recent.

North are the 2nd best team in the AFL at the moment and good on them. Hope they keep it going. Is Hamish MacIntosh as chance to come back?

Being the second best team in the AFL means nothing, cos Geelong aere unbeatable.

If you arent Geelong you may as well finish 16th and get Robbie Warnock and Jack Watts.

What will North get from this year?

A 200 point Grand Final loss, if they somehow make it.

Being the second best team in the AFL means nothing, cos Geelong aere unbeatable.

If you arent Geelong you may as well finish 16th and get Robbie Warnock and Jack Watts.

What will North get from this year?

A 200 point Grand Final loss, if they somehow make it.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. The peace is over.

9 straight prelims and two Premierships didn't get North Melbourne a "winning culture" nor establish them as a feared team. They are another example of how absurd the notion of a "winning culture" is

9 straight prelims and two Premierships didn't get North Melbourne a "winning culture" nor establish them as a feared team. They are another example of how absurd the notion of a "winning culture" is

Wrong and wrong. They have a winning culture, they are feared and they are playing with a salary cap of 90% FFS!! They epitomise a winning culture. Unfortunately for them, it hasn't made them financially successful.

If we had their record, we'd be untouchable financially (and every other ....lly).