AFANA Footy BBS

This year I've taken my Footy interest a step further and decided to pick a team for this season. After joining the Kangaroos I've been reading up on their history. Unfortunately I've come across a problem. WHAT IS A "SHINBONER"? It's mentioned so often that my curiosity is at a peak. I would be much obliged if anyone could help tell me exactly what a "shinboner" is. How can I get into the "Shinboner Spirit" if I don't know what a shinboner is? Please help!

Thanks!
Daniel

> This year I've taken my Footy interest a step further and decided to pick a team
> for this season. After joining the Kangaroos I've been reading up on their history.
> Unfortunately I've come across a problem. WHAT IS A "SHINBONER"? It's
> mentioned so often that my curiosity is at a peak. I would be much obliged if anyone
> could help tell me exactly what a "shinboner" is. How can I get into the
> "Shinboner Spirit" if I don't know what a shinboner is? Please help!

> Thanks!
> Daniel

Hi Daniel -
Not sure when the Kangaroos actually got tagged with that nickname. I do know that in the early, rough and tumble days of footy, when rules were few, one tactic employed was to kick the ball holder in the shin to make him drop the ball. The Kangaroos did not join the compettiion until 1925, by which time kicking was outlawed. However that did not stop one Kangaroo player doing just that to a Geelong opponent in 1925. He received a life ban for the dirty deed.

Lisa
AFANA

> Hi Daniel -
> Not sure when the Kangaroos actually got tagged with that nickname. I do know that
> in the early, rough and tumble days of footy, when rules were few, one tactic
> employed was to kick the ball holder in the shin to make him drop the ball. The
> Kangaroos did not join the compettiion until 1925, by which time kicking was
> outlawed. However that did not stop one Kangaroo player doing just that to a Geelong
> opponent in 1925. He received a life ban for the dirty deed.
Since then, Shinboner and Shinboner spirit - at least for the Kangaroos - has come to mean total committment, courage, and determination in the face of adversity and against the odds.

> Lisa
> AFANA

Thanks for the replys! I appreciate it greatly! Go Roos!

Daniel in FL

Hi Daniel,

Here is what I found:

From the:

The Whole Australian Football Catalogue. The A to Z of All Things AFL
by Downes Stephen, Hutchinson Garrie, Ross John

The Shinboners. Long before they were Kangaroos, North Melbourne were known as the Shinboners. The name apparently derived for the practice of the butchers of North Melbourne hanging cattle shin bones decorated with blue ribbon in their windows on match day at Arden Street. The Shinboners was however seen as a derogatory term by the opposition supporters, who thought it more related to the things that North might do to injure their players. North changed its name to the Blue Birds briefly, but that did not stick, and in 1954 the Shinboners was buried in favour of the Kangaroos.

Hope it helps,

Paat Kelly

> Hi Daniel,

> Here is what I found:

> From the:

> The Whole Australian Football Catalogue. The A to Z of All Things AFL
> by Downes Stephen, Hutchinson Garrie, Ross John

> The Shinboners. Long before they were Kangaroos, North Melbourne were known as the
> Shinboners. The name apparently derived for the practice of the butchers of North
> Melbourne hanging cattle shin bones decorated with blue ribbon in their windows on
> match day at Arden Street. The Shinboners was however seen as a derogatory term by
> the opposition supporters, who thought it more related to the things that North
> might do to injure their players. North changed its name to the Blue Birds briefly,
> but that did not stick, and in 1954 the Shinboners was buried in favour of the
> Kangaroos.

> Hope it helps,

> Paat Kelly

Thanks a bunch! Info like that is just what I was hoping for! You guys are the best! Go Roos!

Daniel