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Shaw deserves the chance to coach North permanently

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Roar Rookie
8th July, 2019
18

North Melbourne should give interim coach Rhyce Shaw the chance to be the next coach of the club.

Shaw has so far proved his coaching credentials since taking over in Round 11 of this season with four wins from five matches, with their only defeat coming against the GWS Giants.

The four victories have come by an average of six goals – 37 points over Richmond, 27 points over the Gold Coast, 44 points over Collingwood and 39 points over St Kilda.

Also, Shaw has coached his team to be ferocious and hard-hitting at the contest.

Shaw has coached his team to be a highly defensive team, keeping opposition teams to an average score of 61 points.

The North Melbourne players have shown in the way they play that they want Shaw to be the man.

Rhyce Shaw

(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Many players have been playing in career-best form including Jy Simpkin, who has had 30-plus disposals in two matches, as well as North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell, who has added goals to his repertoire of skills averaging 2.5 majors from the last two matches, and Luke McDonald, who has regained his confidence in defence.

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Three weeks ago, Jack Ziebell told Fox Sports News that Shaw does have what it takes to be the next senior coach of North Melbourne.

“The first three weeks he’s had as a senior coach have been outstanding and what he’s produced, and what he’s got our players to go and do and buy into in a short period of time has been awesome to watch,” he said on Fox Sports News.

“The next nine or ten weeks is going to be massive for Shawy, and we’re excited for him to be in charge of us for that period, and what will be after that.

“I’m sure Shawy will make a great senior coach, whether that’s at North or somewhere in the future.”

In Round 14, North Melbourne had their best defensive game, keeping the second-placed Collingwood to just 37 points for the game – their lowest score since 1995.

Collingwood were outclassed and outplayed by North Melbourne and Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley shared his thoughts after the humiliating loss to The Age.

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“We are bloody embarrassed with the way we played. That was as bad as it gets,” he said.

“That is as big a shellacking in general play, not so much on the scoreboard, but it’s as big a shellacking in general play that you will see in the game of footy.

“The energy was OK early but it definitely faded, the white flag went up for us. We look at it and all the things that we value in the way that we have gone about our footy we didn’t see today at all and it’s inexplicable to be honest.”

North Melbourne’s players are behind Shaw and club supporters have shouted their praise with many supporters saying the Shinboner spirit is back at the club, as the boys are playing hard and uncompromising football.

The question is if North Melbourne’s strong form continues under Shaw, then surely the club will not need to look elsewhere with the right man already at the helm.

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