Inside the ‘cold war’ between Rhyce Shaw, North Melbourne and the AFL

Frustrated with alleged constant criticism of the club in recent years, North Melbourne privately complained to the AFL about the work of a journalist.

Rhyce Shaw left North Melbourne last year. Picture: Michael Klein

Several North Melbourne people this weekend will hope to speak to Rhyce Shaw for the first time since the club and Shaw separated at the end of last season.

In what has bewildered key Kangaroos staff, they say Shaw has not answered calls or texts from senior people, including head of football Brady Rawlings, director Glenn Archer and head of media Heath O’Loughlin from as far back as late September.

It must be said, Shaw has spoken to some players since he left.

The mysterious circumstances and events leading up to Shaw’s departure from the Kangaroos have never been fully explained

A highly popular figure, Shaw and North Melbourne officially split on October 22.

But a week earlier, it had been announced Shaw was stepping away from football for “personal reasons”.

Watch the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Every match of every round Live on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14 Days Free Now >

Rhyce Shaw stepped aside as North Melbourne coach at the end of last season. Picture: Getty Images

In the days after Round 22, a month before the official split, the Kangaroos were made aware of issues in Shaw’s life when family members told the club he was struggling.

Then, in early January, he joined Gold Coast as a full-time development coach — an announcement that shocked the Kangaroos.

But the “cold war” between North Melbourne and Shaw could end this weekend.

The Kangas and Suns play each other at Metricon on Saturday night.

Speculation that Shaw did not receive enough backing from the club during a wretched 2020 season, largely spent in a Queensland hub, has been quietly rejected by the Kangaroos.

But in an interview with the Herald Sun last November Heath Shaw claimed there had been a lack of support for his brother.

“Rhyce didn’t get the support he needed (at North Melbourne). It wasn’t handled as well as we would have liked, but in the end, we got the result we wanted,’’ Heath said.

The outcome included a settlement from the Kangaroos.

Heath Shaw’s belief is being supported by afl.com.au writer Damian Barrett.

In his regular column for the AFL, Barrett wrote last week: “IF …

there is a lot of doom and gloom about the Roos … THEN … it’s justifiable, given the actions of the chairman and his board in recent years. An ugly 2021 looms. Hope the new coach gets the proper support the past two haven’t.’’

Rhyce Shaw joined the Suns in the off-season. Picture: Getty Images

Fed up with Barret’s alleged criticism of the club in recent years, in particular towards chairman Ben Buckley and Archer, it prompted the club to privately complain to the AFL late last year.

It is said the AFL is monitoring Barrett’s commentary in his column.

In light of his latest offering, the Kangaroos could be excused for believing the AFL is supportive of Barrett’s stance.

Barrett denied on Wednesday that he had been spoken to by the AFL about his coverage of the Kangaroos and said he found the reference “disturbing”.

“Just to be clear on that, I am not being monitored, I never have been and I never will be for what I do at AFL.com.au,” Barrett told Triple M.

The Kangaroos believe they could not have supported Shaw any more than they did during his time as coach.

They allowed Shaw to choose his assistant coaches last summer, including Jade Rawlings, and then allowed him to choose which coaching staff he would take to the Queensland hub and those that he would leave behind.

That he elected to take development coaches Heath Scotland, Shaw’s former teammate at Collingwood, and Leigh Adams ahead of assistant/line coaches in Jared Rivers and Brendan Whitecross is an example of North giving Shaw the opportunity to select his own support staff.

Did Rhyce Shaw receive enough support while coach of North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

The Kangaroos also maintain senior club officials were in daily contact with Shaw in Queensland.

On the flip side, that chief executive Ben Amarfio did not fly into hub when North’s season fell apart could be interpreted as an example of a lack of support for Shaw.

Clearly, the lack of communication from Shaw suggests he has major issues with his former club. They were not obvious when he departed.

“I’m immensely grateful to the [club] for the opportunity it afforded me as a senior coach,” Shaw said in a statement.

“To the players — I will forever cherish the relationships we built and the stories we shared, and I’m grateful for the courage and belief you demonstrated along the journey.”

But it remains to be seen if Shaw will attempt to break bread with Kangaroos officials this weekend.

The Kangaroos hope he does.