North Melbourne have been asked to make an immediate decision on who will coach the club for the next season. The trading period is only a few weeks away.
It comes after the Kangaroos confirmed Rhyce Shaw had taken an extended personal vacation after a tough 2020 campaign for the team that finished 17th on the ladder with a 3:14 record.
Shaw has another year of contract in North Melbourne. But his perpetual vacation means North may be considering contingency plans in case Shaw doesn’t train for the next season.
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Herald Sun. Journalist Jon Ralph reported on Fox Footy Friday night that Shaw was “very unlikely” to train next season but could still return in a pared-back role as an assistant coach.
Legendary Hawthorn goalkicker Jason Dunstall said the kangaroos are now in a difficult but crucial position.
Who to choose to coach Roos?
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“The difficulty here is that the health and wellbeing of Rhyce Shaw and his family are of the utmost importance and priority. Unfortunately, a club can’t stand still while things are going on, ”Dunstall told Fox Footy.
“As much as you will support him, you have to develop further – and you are currently in a critical phase.
“You are going through a critical phase where you make strategic decisions about lists and players and which direction you are going. You don’t want to get this, you want to be part of it when you ‘I’m coaching the team.”
Hardwick’s Shaw feeling
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Collingwood legend Tony Shaw told 3AW football on Friday night he had spoken to his brother Ray about Rhyce’s situation.
When asked if he knew if Rhyce would train North in 2021, former Pies trainer Tony Shaw said, “I’ll be honest, my brother said to me – and if he wants me to help his son, I have no worries with that too – but he just told me he didn’t question him, he wants to leave him to himself. He will support him and we will all support him, but he didn’t question him. “
Tony Shaw said it was important for the Roos to call immediately who will coach the club for the next season.
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“In a way, I think that sooner or later you have to come out and make a decision together – but not to the detriment of your health,” Tony said.
“If so and you haven’t made that decision, I recommend the North Melbourne Footy Club. (If) there are other things behind the scenes and we find out about them later, we may not recommend them. But I just have to read how (the statement is) and that’s it. “
The decision means that Shaw, who replaced Brad Scott as the club’s interim coach for half of 2019 before being made full-time appearances prior to the 2020 season, is unlikely to participate in any further calls to manage the North List during the upcoming AFL swap will participate period.
Because of this, Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd said it was important that the club act quickly.
“It has to be what’s right for Rhyce first and foremost. But there would be a lot of players in North Melbourne who are wondering where the club is going and who will be the coach. If you weren’t under contract, you’d say, “OK, is Rhyce our coach or is it Paul Roos?” Lloyd said on 3AW.
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“I think that has to be a point where they have to say who the coach is taking forward. Otherwise there might be players who want to leave because they are so unsure about the football club.”
Write in the Herald Sun., Chief soccer reporter and AFL 360 Co-host Mark Robinson said North had “no alternative” but to make sure Shaw doesn’t coach the club for his own wellbeing for the next season.
“It doesn’t matter if Rhyce Shaw wants to become a senior coach next year. North Melbourne – and the AFL – have a responsibility to turn him down,” wrote Robinson.
“After a stressful season that finally brought the coach to his knees at the end of the first week after round 23, the kangaroos know that they have to look after their beloved coach. The AFL too. “
Former Bulldogs ruckman Luke Darcy said it was “an incredibly sad story, there is no other way to describe it,” while Richmond trainer Damien Hardwick said it was a “speedy recovery” for Shaw.
“People like Rhyce Shaw don’t grow on trees,” Hardwick said. “He is a special person.
“We just want him to jump back very quickly because people like him are great in the business.”
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