As Roos edge towards the eight, Shaw stays focused
NORTH Melbourne has surged to within touching distance of the top eight but interim coach Rhyce Shaw refuses to look beyond what awaits next week for his highflying Roos.
Since taking the reins from Brad Scott after Round 10, Shaw has guided the club to a 5-1 record as it now sits four points behind seventh-placed Adelaide ahead of next Saturday’s blockbuster against Essendon.
Yesterday’s 39-point victory against St Kilda — set up by a blistering opening quarter where they piled on 7.5 to 1.1 —
“It’s really tight, you can see all the other teams are fighting for those spots and as I’ve said before we are just focused on that next challenge and that’s all we can do as a football club,” Shaw said.
“I’m a big believer in that, making sure our players do their job, Monday to Friday we take care of what we can take care over and then on the weekend trying to execute a plan.
“I haven’t really thought about it [the coaching position], I’ve just thought week to week and that’s all I can do.
“We just have to take care of what’s in front of us right now.”
Shaw was full of praise for his emerging talent, who have taken the burden off captain Jack Ziebell, midfield bull Ben Cunnington and key forward Ben Brown.
“Larks has kicked five, that puts him halfway to a rising star, I think, but I am really proud of those guys, we are seeing contributions all across the field now,” he said.
“I think we are playing a really even brand of football. Larks did it today, Zurhaar has kicked five, Benny Brown has kicked three and Browny is doing a lot of work up the ground at stages and allowing those guys to succeed. The guys are playing for each other.”