Reluctant Roos get on board

NORTH Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw has no serious qualms about travelling for away matches on the same charter flights as rival clubs, but is still waiting for AFL clarification on the matter.

With the AFL bent on saving costs in dire financial times, it has moulded the new fixture list to allow for multiple clubs to travel together on match days.

The schedule means players, coaches and support staff collectively spend less time in hotels during the coronavirus crisis.

The Kangaroos are set to travel on the morning of their Round 2 clash with GWS and will share flights with Essendon, who take on Sydney the same day.

Shaw admitted the travel schedule would not be ideal preparation, but said his club was willing to make sacrifices for the good of the competition.

“We just have to do it. If we get the opportunity to play, we’ll play,” he said yesterday.

“If we have to share with another team, we’ll do that. It’s not ideal, especially with that team (fierce rivals Essendon), but we’ll just see how we go.”

The new-look travel schedule will mean teams are waiting around for others before or after matches.

North Melbourne’s Round 2 fixture will start and finish about two-and-a-half hours before Essendon’s.

“If we have to wait ... we’ll make the most of it and get our preparation right for the next week,” Shaw (pictured) said.

“It’s all about opportunity and we want to make the most of our opportunity.

“We’ve got 16 games to put our best foot forward and we want to play finals, so we have to adapt.”