Next season can’t come quick enough for North Melbourne’s newly appointed forward-line coach, Brendan Whitecross.

Whitecross’ promotion rounds out a dramatic and exciting coaching overhaul, with a raft of new faces bringing a wealth of experience and energy to Arden St. 

The former Hawk veteran moved to North at the end of 2018, taking on a development coach role and says he’s excited about a new challenge. 

“I’ve got a lot to learn but I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity,” he told North Media.

“I’m still fresh to the coaching scene but to be given the opportunity to take over as an assistant coach next year is really exciting.

“Obviously it’s a big step up from the development side of things and playing in the VFL. Being more hands-on in a full-time coaching role, there’s plenty to learn so I’m coming in eyes wide open and it’s exciting times ahead.” 

Whitecross said the energy Rhyce Shaw has brought to the club since being appointed head coach is second to none. 

“After about three or four weeks of Rhyce taking the reins you could see the energy in the place really lift. Everybody got excited about what might be,” he said.

“Now that his role’s finalised and we’ve got the new appointments in the coaching group and some fresh faces with some fresh ideas, it’s certainly exciting for what we can achieve. 

“Rhyce is bringing the clarity around coaches’ roles and expectations, and the clarity we’ve also been able to get to the players about what their roles look like.

“Next year we can really hone in and give the players a clear understanding about what we’re setting out to achieve and what their roles are. Once we start playing games it’s all set in stone, everyone knows what’s going on and we can all start rowing in the same direction. 

“With all the planning that’s gone into place already, 2020 can’t come quick enough.”

Building meaningful relationships a key to Whitecross’s philosophy.

“The one thing I really loved as a player towards the end of my career was the relationships and building them, not just with senior players, but the younger guys at the club and also having relationships with coaches,” he continued. 

“I think that’s a really big part of footy now, having the relationships and the trust, so that when a player needs to receive some feback or you need to give it as a coach, the trust is there that it’s coming from a good place. 

“Relationships are really important to the foundation of the footy club and what we’re trying to achieve so that will certainly be an area that I will continue to work on and be a very strong part of my coaching plan.”

Whitecross’s appointment is the final piece of the puzzle in Shaw’s coaching department. The first year coach set to be surrounded by talented former players that have coached their own teams, ensuring a dynamic and vibrant mix for the players to thrive under.

“Our focus was to go after people who know how to play the game at the highest level, but also have a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to coach in their own right,” Shaw said.

Jade Rawlings (senior assistant / midfield), Jared Rivers (back-line), Leigh Adams (development) and Heath Scotland (development) have joined the Kangaroos while Gavin Brown (Head of Development) and Brendan Whitecross (forward-line) have taken on new roles.

Games record holder, Brent Harvey, has also taken on more responsibility as the club’s new goal-kicking coach, part-time development coach and runner on match days, while David Loader continues as VFL coach in his fifth year.

Darren Crocker will help the club with its list build as a pro scout, while also adopting a broader role to maintain and enhance North’s envied culture.

“When the players return for pre-season training, they’ll be coming back to work under some of the game’s smartest former players and best thinkers as coaches,” Shaw added.

“We believe they’ll really enjoy working with this new coaching line-up and hope it gives them a real boost and re-energises them as we look to build on the momentum we created in the second half of the 2019 season.

"Not only for our AFL team but to have Loader coaching the VFL once again is a testament to the person and coach he is. He’s done an amazing job with our VFL team and the development of our younger players.

“I can’t wait to roll the sleeves up and get to work with these guys and am really excited about what we’ve been able to put together.”