North Melbourne has lost the Shinboner spirit, writes David King

The long running feud between Brad Scott and David King exploded at Marvel Stadium. But how did it get to this point? Recap the hard hitting column that may have pushed things over the edge.

Kangaroos coach Brad Scott.

The long running feud between Brad Scott and David King exploded at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

But how did it get to this point?

Brad Scott made a bee-line towards David King at that three quarter time huddle. Ran quite close to him and may have made some comments. No love lost after King’s recent column in the Herald Sun.

— Jay Clark (@ClarkyHeraldSun) May 25, 2019

Recap the hard hitting column that may have pushed things over the edge:

There are too many “visitors” at Arden St.

“Visitors” being short-to-medium term occupants who either don’t believe in North Melbourne’s heart and soul — The Shinboner — or have not embraced the club’s beliefs.

The Shinboner is a unifying, overarching ethos that not only embraces the struggles of the past but sets the bare minimum standards that this once great football club demands.

North Melbourne’s culture was born from the Shinboner and has always been about its people, past and present.

Often it was all we had.

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So the question need to be asked: Is Brad Scott a visitor?

After 10 years at the helm, if it all finished today, what would his legacy as coach look like?

To my mind, Scott either misinterpreted or simply wasn’t a subscriber to “The Shinboner Spirit” upon arrival at the club.

Perhaps it’s more important for the rusted-on Kangaroos fan and the football club that our ethos remains intact.

But right now it’s significantly more important to Scott and his side than any tactic or moving of player magnets.

Did Kangaroos coach Brad Scott buy into North Melbourne’s famed “Shinboner spirit”?

Relationships are in fashion, regarding coach to player and coach to staff and so on.

We’ve witnessed Damien Hardwick and Nathan Buckley shift their focus over the past couple of seasons to redefine their priorities, with stunning success.

Has Scott undergone that same transformation?

All great cultures possess tremendous player unity driven by the stars, from Wayne Schimmelbusch to Wayne Carey. Or even further back, as legend has it, by Les Foote and John Dugdale types.

But I can only identify with the Carey model that had all players, trainers and staff on the same equal peg.

Carey was a true cultural driver who stamped a one-in, all-in philosophy.

Does this playing group enjoy the same bond?

The loss of Geoff Walsh as director of football cannot be understated.

His preparedness to engage in difficult conversations and arrest areas of concern, or at bare minimum raise an alarm, are missing right now.

On-field, the game plan is failing.

Opposition sides score against North Melbourne with an uncomfortable ease and it’s been that way for years.

Disturbingly, the much-lauded brutal contested ball asset has dissipated to the point of becoming docile.

When all else is lost clubs retreat to their core foundation, their identity and what they stand for, but what are the current non-negotiables at Arden St?

We don’t want Scott the coach, we want Scott the player.

Ben Cunnington and Scott Thompson have played in the right manner with 100 per cent effort, 100 per cent of the time.

They never throw in the towel and make Kangaroo fans proud, but others must get on board.

When was the last time the captain grabbed a game by the throat?

The spotlight is on North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell.

Jack Ziebell cannot have a repeat of last week’s six disposal, zero tackle stat sheet.

His physical presence has such an emotional influence on this group, but he must spend time at the coalface, in the true midfield on Friday night.

Has the glut of free agency acquisitions of the previous four to five years watered down and diluted the deep-seated passion for the club, over and above the pure financial gain?

Are these “consultants”, who have been selected for a specific needs in the short term, buying in to the total team requirements?

The uncontested nature of how some are playing would suggest there are worrying signs.

Jared Polec, Aaron Hall and this season’s version of Shaun Higgins are swanning around the ground prioritising uncontested football and personal statistical reward over the team needs, which include all defensive actions.

Regardless of all else the spotlight of Friday night football, when the club has its back to the wall, has always been the domain of the “Shinboner”.

Playing Port Adelaide provides the perfect opportunity for North to reignite a season drifting aimlessly into the abyss.

Recruit Aaron Hall in action for the Kangaroos. Picture: Michael Klein

The Power are following the outstanding leadership of Travis Boak, Ollie Wines and Tom Jonas, but still possess much inexperience.

North Melbourne must seek to ambush the Power in the same manner as Richmond only a

fortnight ago.

When these Kangaroos pull on the royal blue and white vertical stripes they must be prepared to fight tooth and nail for victory with a desire that doesn’t settle for near enough is good enough.

It’s season on the line at the Adelaide Oval.

It takes a lot for the North Melbourne faithful to stir, but they are agitated.

I’m convinced there will be an all-club review, from top to bottom, at season’s end and I fear a broom will be swept through Arden St.

But just how long those brushes will be could be determined over the next three months.

I accept that when discussing North Melbourne, I’m accused either of being too supportive, or the contrary, turning on the club that gave me all that I enjoy.

But I write this because I care.

What I’d give to select Glenn Archer, John Law and Jimmy Krakouer at the selection table tonight, not on talent, but effort alone.