North Melbourne senior coach Rhyce Shaw will step away indefinitely from football duties and may not return as senior coach, the club has revealed in a statement today.
The 38-year-old coach, who had just completed his first full season in charge of the Kangaroos, asked the club for some time away due to personal reasons. The request was granted, but the club has since accepted that his circumstances may prevent him from returning to the club in the same position.
North Melbourne chairman Ben Buckley said the club was “aware of speculation” regarding Shaw, but had elected not to respond until today to “respect the wishes of Rhyce and his family.”
“Rhyce has asked for some time and space away from football and we have provided him support during this period.
“In the meantime, we will forge ahead. From a board perspective, our decision-making centres around one ambition: how we can build a team and a football program that will win our fifth flag.”
Shaw joined North Melbourne as an assistant coach in 2019, following three years as an assistant with the Sydney Swans. After Brad Scott stood down from the role midway through the year, Shaw was given the caretaker role, before being promoted to the role full-time.
Despite starting 2020 with two straight wins, the wheels fell off quickly for the Roos as they won just one of their remaining 15 matches. The disastrous season led to an unprecedented cleanout, with six assistant coaches departing, 11 players being delisted and both Ben Brown and Shaun Higgins being put up for trade.
The club has already brought Sydney assistant and former premiership player John Blakey across, while rumours also claim the club has been trying to coax Paul Roos out of retirement for a second time. Former Brisbane coach and current Port Adelaide assistant Michael Voss is also allegedly on the club’s radar.
Republican
Guest
.......the penny dropped. It's been a long week - already.
Republcian
Guest
lost me.
Footyguy
Guest
Move them over to West Australia. Mt Lawley Kangaroos Midland Kangaroos Cannington Kangaroos Bayswater Kangaroos Subiaco Kangaroos Northbridge Kangaroos Kalamunda Kangaroos Which has the best ring to it?
Footyguy
Guest
John Blakey, there's a reason they rehired him. Make him coach I say. 20 years of coaching experience. Who ever they get other than Paul Roos or Alistair Clarkson won't have that level of experience. Blakey has been talked about a potential coach for year and is long overdue for a senior coaching position. Blakey is a legend at north and understands what makes north great, having someone that actually played for your club is a big plus This guy has worked with leigh Matthews, john Longmire (by the way north it doesn't hurt to have another crack at him,), he's been with the best of the afl, shaw only had 3 years of experience, I believe shaw will coach again for another club sometime before 2029 Don Pyke's a left field option, Alan Richardson Please don't do ross lyon, North Melbourne please no. Don't go down that road. Paul Roos, probably not the best option
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Think you're being a bit too precious.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Promote athleticism over warrior culture. Ha ha ha no chance now but ultimately inevitable.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Understand where you're coming from. I think. Naaah. 'Character attack' is probs taking it a bit far.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
In a team photos page. Herald Sun lowest ever.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Just no context or comment but obvious character attack. The only reason to pick those pics. Mark Robinson should be editor. This is how the media beats up stuff. Joel Selwood has earned better.
Quite right
Guest
Tasmania now hold the aces. But it is up to the Tassie government to have the finances in place to bankroll a team. They should just put a 1 percent levy on all punting money in Tasmania and that should cover the costs. The dumbest possible thing Tasmania could do now is allow a North or a Hawthorn to come down there and extract a fat bounty to stage a few matches. Tasmania needs to let them die so they can live. They made that mistake before, don't let a Jeff Kennett come down and bully you into it again. North's whole plan to survive now is to take their show on the road for as much money as they can get. Well, if that is their plan then what if noone is prepared to pay them? This crisis is Tasmania's great opportunity. They just need to hold their nerve and stare down this big smoke hustlers like Jeff Kennett and the cricket commentator chap(that never played international cricket, yet still gets in the commentary box).
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Take one look at his face, looks like an old boxer or rugby league player.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Freo haven’t achieved anything yet. And guess who’s not there, same thing as at St Kilda, Lyon hasn’t finished anything yet, as for Roos people need to remember the huge AFL “kick in” as part of their rise, but they still have a long way to go.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I used to joke last year when the Cats were losing every second week that the two were swapping.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
What would you say to a healthier version of yourself?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
And the mandarins of Melbourne shifted north as Canberra was crowned capital on 1927. So it'd be fitting.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Why? Joel Selwood's had more smacks to the head than hot dinners. Photos would be so readily on file. Makes sense. A serious issue the game has to deal with. What do you suggest?
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Disgusting herald sun making selwood poster boy for head trauma 2 pics this week. Both terrible. Pretty black game. Disgusting.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I hope you don't intend your comment about Ross as ironic. Freo has been rebuilt perfectly according to that 5 year time frame. Where do you think it has failed?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
The ideal time to find who is the better coach out of Chris and Brad. Chris Scott to North. ????
Kane
Roar Rookie
Leppitsch is getting out of footy after this year's finished, he's had enough.