Struggling Kangaroos coach takes indefinite leave

North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw has stepped away from football indefinitely as he deals with an ongoing personal issue.

Rhyce Shaw, senior coach of the Kangaroos, has taken indefinite leave from the game. Picture: Michael Klein

North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw has stepped away from football indefinitely as he deals with an ongoing personal issue.

It’s unclear whether he will resume the role.

The Kangaroos confirmed on Friday the first-year coach took leave of absence from his role immediately after the completion of Round 18 in September.

The AFL was kept abreast of the situation regarding Shaw in recent weeks and the fact the Sydney premiership player had taken leave from the club known in football circles.

North Melbourne chairman Ben Buckley, in a letter to club members addressing what has been a difficult season for the club, provided an update on Shaw.

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“We have been acutely aware of speculation regarding our head coach but we have not been in a position to say anything as we are respecting the wishes of Rhyce and his family,” Buckley said.

“Rhyce has asked for some time and space away from football and we have provided him support during this period.

“We thank the media for their ongoing co-operation and trust they understand we can’t make further comment at this time.

“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.”

It’s unclear whether Shaw will resume the role. Picture: Getty

The welfare of Shaw and his family has been a priority in football in recent weeks and will continue to be for North Melbourne, but the business of football continues.

The Kangaroos recently recruited former player and long-time Swans assistant coach John Blakey in a similar role for 2021 as part of an overhaul of the football department.

“He is a person of great character, has wonderful experience having coached at the Brisbane Lions during their successful era and, more recently, was part of the foundation of the culture that led to the success of the Sydney Swans,” Buckley said.

As well as providing support for Shaw, who initially took over from Brad Scott last year, the Kangaroos have been dealing with the fallout from a testing season.

North Melbourne started the year brightly, winning the opening two matches, but fell away badly, finishing 17th after struggling to adapt to life on the road.

Shaw was notably downcast the longer the season progressed as he attempted to find an answer to the Kangaroos’ woes.

North Melbourne moved rapidly to sever ties with 11 players at the end of the season in a move that prompted shock in some quarters given the scale of the cuts.

Shaw will almost certainly be absent from North Melbourne as the club negotiates the trade period next month and the AFL draft in early December.

Buckley said the Kangaroos could not afford to overlook the on-field struggles this season despite the clear difficulties associated with expanded stints in hubs.

“In no way can we afford to brush over what was a year below our standards and while we know our team was restricted by injury, which compromised our ability to field our best side, our performances were not at the level we expect,” he said.