North Melbourne premiership player David King has urged his former club to dip into the piggy bank and spend big on their next coach, if that’s what’s required.
Whether it’s Paul Roos, who Anthony Hudson believes hasn’t completely closed the door on coaching, Alastair Clarkson, John Longmire, Adam Simpson or whoever else, King believes the Kangaroos are in a position to fork out for whoever they like.
“The Kangaroos have never been in a better position financially than what they are right now,” King told AFL Nation.
“They’ve got the backing to go after whoever they want. They could go after a John Longmire, they could have a throw at the dartboard for Clarkson, you’ve got to be brave when you’ve got these opportunities. Don’t settle for second or third best.
“Ask the question. No one asked the question of Ross Lyon when he left St Kilda. Fremantle had the courage to go bang.
“What price to get Adam (Simpson) back (from West Coast)? These are the questions they have to ask. There’s probably a two per cent chance, but this is what they have to ask.
“Everyone’s got a price and the Kangaroos have the money. If they think Paul Roos is the right man, then go and get him.
“It’s as simple as that, but they’ve got the luxury of time now. First and foremost they have to do their review.
“They have to know how dire the situation is in every department of that football club.
“All the things that I hear, there’s a lot of work to be done.”
Of the first-time head coach candidates, King feels North Melbourne has plenty of options.
“I think there’s a lot of great candidates out there,” he said.
“We haven’t had a lot of coaching change, so it’s a great opportunity to have a look around.”
DAL SANTO WEIGHS IN ON SCOTT NEWS
SEN veteran broadcaster Anthony Hudson deals with the footy coaches who are going through the level four pathways and agrees that there are plenty of those out there who could be great choices.
“You’ve got a lot of other guys who’ve done the level four coaching and are just waiting,” he said.
“John Barker at Carlton, Matthew Nicks at GWS, Dean Solomon’s had a taste, Blake Caracella obviously, they’ve all got credentials and it gets down to the whole package and what they can bring in terms of relationships and whether they can manage the whole job.
“Sam Mitchell’s a fascinating one, he seems like he’s on the path to take over from Clarko when he’s done, but I know other clubs are interested because they recognise the talent he is.”
Hudson believes North assistant coach Rhyce Shaw will take over as interim coach.
“I think Rhce Shaw impressed them enormously and he could be the man who is the caretaker coach,” he said.
Shaw has been with the Roos since September of 2018.
