North Melbourne in Shaw hands with interim coach as Giant opposition awaits

What’s it like stepping into the hot seat to be an AFL coach? And then to coach against your brother? North Melbourne interim coach Rhyce Shaw tells all here.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA — JUNE 08: Kangaroos interim coach Rhyce Shaw during the round 12 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Metricon Stadium on June 08, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

NORTH Melbourne’s interim coach Rhyce Shaw sits down with the Sunday Tasmanian sports editor BRETT STUBBS ahead of his first game in charge in Hobart against the GWS Giants.

North Melbourne care-taker coach Rhyce Shaw in Hobart for his first match coaching in Tasmania. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Did you speak to Heath this week and will it be different coaching against your brother as opposed to playing against him?

I haven’t spoken to him yet but I’m sure there will be a phone call before the game. He is just another player this week! In saying that, I’m really proud of him and all he has achieved in his football career. He has been a great player for a long period of time and again at the back end of his career he is still contributing at a high level.

What’s the biggest difference between sitting in the assistant’s chair and the senior coach’s chair?

The main difference being the buck stops with you. I’ve really enjoyed the extra responsibility and spending time with every player across the list. The transition has been made that much easier because of the support I have received from the other assistant coaches, Leigh Tudor, Darren Crocker, Jarrad Moore, Jason Lappin, David Loader, Gavin Brown and Brenden Whitecross.

What was Sydney coach John Longmire’s advice to you prior to being in charge for your first game?

Horse was one of the first to get in contact with me and suggested a few things I should do before the week started. He was a great mentor for me over the 10 years I spent with him in Sydney and will be forever grateful for the opportunity he game me to coach when my playing career ended.

What has been behind the turn around in the past three weeks?

I think the last 3 weeks have been the result of the 3 weeks prior to that. We won against Carlton and were right in the next 2 games against Sydney and Geelong. We felt in those 2 games we didn’t quite execute our plans but still played some pretty good football. The past 3 games we have started to play the kind of football we know we are capable of with still room to improve.

As much as it is turbulent when a senior coach moves on, is it also a huge release of the pressure valve on the players and club?

I’m not sure it was a huge release of pressure. Brad was a fantastic coach and somebody we all loved working under. I think the change might have made us all assess where we are at and what we all want to achieve.

Going into this round, the Roos sit one game out of the top eight, are playing finals a goal?

Playing finals should always be the goal of any team. However, our focus must remain on the game ahead. We still have a long way to go in terms of the football we would like to be playing consistently week to week but we are certainly on the right track at the moment.

How do you stop the Giants explosive run and transition?

The Giants are a really impressive outfit, with some extremely talented individuals. Having come from Sydney and seen their evolution as both a club and as a team up close, I know how difficult that job can be. We have to continue to improve all facets of our game and I think if we do that, we can make it a real contest.

Tarryn Thomas earned a rising star nomination last round, the Roos third this season. What does his future look like and where do you think his best position will be as he matures?

I’ve said this a little bit this week but I don’t think I’ve seen a cleaner pair of hands in a first-year player than the ones Tarryn Thomas has. His ability to take the ball first time, absorb pressure and then create for his teammates is second to none. I think Tarryn could play anywhere, literally anywhere! But, I do think he could end up in the midfield when his body matures a bit more.

Ben Brown copped some criticism earlier in the season for being too one dimensional, but is third in the Coleman. How have you viewed his season?

Ben has been fantastic for us this year. I really value what Ben does because of all the hard work he puts in during the week. He leaves no stone unturned in terms of his preparation. He has played some super football, I think none better this year than his performance against Richmond, where not only did he kick 5 goals but also competed in the air when totally out of position, bring the ball to ground to give us a chance at ground level.

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