Shock name thrown up to replace Rhyce Shaw as North Melbourne coach

After North Melbourne and coach Rhyce Shaw revealed they have parted ways, a Roos great has suggested a surprise replacement.

AFL Round 18. 17/09/2020. North Melbourne vs West Coast Eagles at Metricon stadium, Gold Coast. Rhyce Shaw, senior coach of the Kangaroos at qtr time . Pic: Michael Klein

North Melbourne are on the hunt for a new head coach after Rhyce Shaw and the club “came to a mutual decision to part ways, effective immediately”.

Coming a little less than a week after revealing he was taking extended leave from the club for personal reasons, the club released a statement to reveal the parties were going their separate ways.

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David King, a premiership player with the Kangaroos, has already weighed in on how his former club should go about replacing Shaw.

“I think they need to go with someone really experienced, someone that’s able to take some bullets over the next couple of years and take the pain of losing some games,” King told Fox Footy.

“I’m going to experienced guys - even someone as far back as Mick Malthouse. Someone who can settle the ship.”

“The club’s in a position where, let’s be realistic about it, we’re not threatening for flags or anything like that,” King added.

“The decisions on lists and those sorts of things have already been forecast by Glenn Luff, Scott Clayton and his crew so they’re in good hands there.

“There’s a lot of decisions to be made on players who are looking for trades or potentially moving on like Ben Brown is.

“Those discussions are ongoing, they’ve been happening while Rhyce has been away from the club. I don’t think there’s any real time pressure, it’s just a matter of getting the decision correct.”

Shaw was brought in to the Kangaroos’ top job in August 2019 but the side had a horror 2020 season, winning just three games to finish ahead of only the Adelaide Crows – and only on percentage.

Shaw took leave immediately after the Kangaroos’ final game of the season against West Coast after a tough season in the hub, but the speculation quickly turned to whether Shaw would return to the position.

Rhyce Shaw has departed as Kangaroos coach.

The club released a statement on Thursday afternoon to reveal Shaw was moving on from the club with the former Magpies and Swans star thanking the club and the players.

“I’m immensely grateful to the North Melbourne Football Club for the opportunity it afforded me as senior coach, and want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the football department and club staff, as well as North’s incredible members and supporters, who together, endured an extraordinarily challenging season,“ he said.

“Your contribution, commitment and dedication to this club was enormous, and I am deeply grateful.

“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.

“I’d also like to extend my thanks to members of the AFL media for the care and respect they’ve shown during this time.

“Despite the challenges of the past year, my passion for football remains. The experiences I’ve had throughout my career developing young footballers to reach their potential has given me the greatest satisfaction and pride, and I hope to have the opportunity to contribute to this great game again in the future.

“For now, however, my focus is on taking time out, and I would ask that my privacy, and that of my family, continue to be respected at this time.“

It’s been a tough year for Shaw.

Kangaroos CEO Ben Buckley also thanked Shaw for coming in midway through the 2019 season as well as the time and energy he put into the club.

But the statement also outlined the steps the club would be taking in looking for a new coach.

Shaw’s indefinite break led to plenty of discussion in AFL circles with social media seeing plenty of well wishes for the departing coach.

Wishing Rhyce Shaw and his family all the best for the future, it’s been a tough year for the @NMFCOfficial, hopefully the 2021 season will be a lot more promising. #allthebest @AFL #AFL

— josh hill (@hillydard33) October 22, 2020

Rhyce Shaw news is rough. I know the results this year weren't great for @NMFCOfficial but Shaw was always an interesting and open chat during their Qld #afl hub.

His words after Majak Daw's return were perfect.

Wishing him all the best.

— Ed Jackson (@edjacko) October 22, 2020

Enormous respect for Rhyce Shaw. He has a deep well of support that starts with his family. Wish him all the best.

— peter ryan (@petryan) October 22, 2020

Heath Shaw back his players in the last game of the season.

WHO WILL THE NEW COACH BE?

Buckley said the club had been preparing for contingencies and would start the search for a new head coach immediately.

“We will establish a coaching panel with a simple aim: to identify and appoint the best coach available,“ Buckley said.

“The successful candidate will have the opportunity to continue to build towards the next era of success at Arden St and work with one of the most talented groups of young players in the league.

“We will head to the draft with two first-round picks (currently 2 & 9) and will look to add more young talent through the trade and free agency periods.

While the Roos have tried to get former Swans premiership coach Paul Roos in a part-time leadership mentoring role, Swans senior assistant coach John Blakey has also been signed for 2021.

But claims quickly emerged that Blakey does not have aspirations to be the head coach next year.

AFL.com.au said that former Brisbane coach and champion and Port Adelaide senior assistant Michael Voss is a person of interest for the club, while The Herald Sun‘s Mark Robinson said ex-Fremantle boss Ross Lyon was “certain to be approached”.