North Melbourne to announce Rhyce Shaw as senior coach

North Melbourne formally interviewed one candidate for its senior coaching job — Rhyce Shaw — but says it didn’t cut any corners in its search for a new coach.

Rhyce Shaw will be announced as North Melbourne’s senior coach. Picture: Luke Bowden

North Melbourne has strongly backed its “exhaustive” process in appointing Rhyce Shaw as the club’s senior coach, despite admitting it did not formally interview any other candidates.

Shaw, 37, was announced today as the Kangaroos’ 36th permanent coach, with chairman Ben Buckley saying he has “transformed” the group since taking over as interim leader after Brad Scott’s dramatic exit after Round 10.

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But while Shaw’s elevation proved one of the worst kept secrets in football, Buckley maintained the Kangaroos didn’t cut any corners in their search for a senior coach.

“I’ve seen some commentary about our process and I can assure our members and supporters it was exhaustive,” Buckley told a packed media conference at Arden St, attended by Shaw and chief executive Carl Dilena.

Shaw formally interviewed for the position last Monday week and signed his new deal — a three-year deal which will ultimately revert into an executive-style rolling contract — on Wednesday.

North Melbourne’s new head coach Rhyce Shaw.

Buckley confirmed Shaw was the only candidate to face an interview, but dismissed speculation some assistant coaches were unwilling to apply as they believed the highly-regarded caretaker already had the job.

“I can’t recall anyone saying, ‘I’m not putting my name up because I think Rhyce is a lock’,” Buckley said. “I think Rhyce would tell you he’s gone through a pretty extensive process and some pretty hard questioning from some of the panel members.”

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Shaw’s on-the-run audition in the role — winning four of his eight games so far — was a key reason behind his elevation, as was his sound tactical nous and superb man-management skills.

There was an audible roar of approval from staff members and players when his appointment was announced at the club early today.

The Kangaroos targeted premiership winning coaches and ex-Kangaroos players Alastair Clarkson, John Longmire and Adam Simpson, but when those approaches were unsuccessful, they kept coming back to Shaw as their preferred option.

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Buckley stressed the club sounded out other applicants, even if they weren’t interviewed.

“We obviously had conversations with those who are pretty experienced and pretty successful, as you would expect us to,” Buckley said.

“All along that process, we had the opportunity to observe Rhyce in a live situation which I have to say, we’re fortunate that we had because it gives us an opportunity to see someone almost presenting week-in, week-out.”

North Melbourne managing director Carl Dilena, new coach Rhyce Shaw and chairman Ben Buckley speak to the media.

Shaw said he wasn’t sure he had the role until Wednesday afternoon.

“I absolutely knew I was a lock yesterday,” he said. “We signed the paper … and I think you can only know when you put pen to paper.

“The guys really grilled me, and I was happy to be put under the griller,” he said of the formal interview.

“To have the opportunity to be the senior coach of the North Melbourne Football Club going forward, I am honoured and privileged.”

Buckley would not go into detail about the Herald Sun’s exclusive story on how the club faces a $800,000 payout to Scott next year if he doesn’t win another senior role at another club next year.

“We are not going to comment on the specifics of anyone’s contract,” Buckley said. “We have got the capacity to deal with anything that we might have to deal with … and that we can deal with that in the soft cap.”

Buckley and Shaw are open to bringing in an experienced senior assistant or mentor to the club for next year, with speculation former St Kilda coach Alan Richardson could be an option.

“That’s ultimately up to Rhyce and Brady Rawlings when he joins us as the head of football,” Buckley said. “Those sort of discussions will evolve over the coming months.”

Shaw said his focus was solely on Friday’s clash against Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium.