Dew excited to reunite with Shaw at Suns

FORMER North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw’s return to football has been pushed back a week, after state border restrictions complicated his move to Gold Coast Suns.

Shaw was due to begin work as the new head of development on Monday, but was unable to make it to Queensland in time for the club’s postChristmas return to training.

Shaw will instead begin working to develop the Suns’ young list under head coach Stuart Dew next Monday.

Dew and Shaw worked together as assistant coaches at Sydney in 2017 and 2018.

And Dew said he was excited to be reunited after Shaw stepped down from his role at the Kangaroos last October.

“It’s a great opportunity for us,” Dew said. “When he became available we asked ourselves those questions and he wasn’t in our planning initially. But when a person of that caliber becomes available, we were able to shuffle a few things around and make sure that we could get him on board.

“I’m excited about it and I’m sure the players are, too.

“He’s a great resource for our young players, and it will be good for me, too.

“He’s done the role for a year in the toughest year possible, so to get him back in the game — it’s where he belongs.

“He’s got too much to offer not to be in the game, and we’re really happy that him and his family have chosen to move up.”

The Suns have also added Kurt Tippett to their coaching arsenal, with the former Adelaide and Sydney utility beginning a part-time role on Monday working with the rucks and key forwards.