North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has declared he is ready to steer the club through a period of transition, and admits he would have deferred the announcement of its four departing veterans until after the season.
Coming off back-to-back preliminary final appearances, the Kangaroos looked destined for another premiership tilt after winning nine consecutive games to sit on top of the ladder.
However, a bad run of injuries and a tougher run home saw them endure a 3-10 win-loss record for the remainder of the season to scrape into the top eight.
After the Kangaroos crashed out of the finals race, Scott has been linked to the vacant senior coaching position at the Brisbane Lions, particularly given his 146-game playing career at the club.
Scott, who has coached North Melbourne since 2010, said he remained "fully committed" to the job at Arden Street.
"I've been at the club for a fair period of time now, I've invested enormously in the club and they've invested in me as a young 33-year-old coach at the time," Scott told Channel Seven on Monday night.
"I'm contracted for a further two years and I've always maintained I'll do the best thing for North Melbourne, and while they think that's me, then that's where I'll be."
The Kangaroos have entered a period of regeneration after veterans Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo were not offered contracts for 2017.
Scott said he stuck by his promise to inform the quartet as soon as possible, but acknowledged he would have waited until the Kangaroos' season had ended before making a public announcement.
"We were very disappointed that it was messaged the way it was but in terms of the players themselves, 'Boomer' [Harvey] in particular, he doesn't feel disrespected in any way, shape or form," Scott said.
"If I had my time again, I still would've told him because I gave him that commitment that I'd tell him, but I probably would've said, 'Mate, it's not the time now to announce it … You know so you've got some clarity around the situation but for the club's sake, we need to announce this post-season'.
"No doubt the messaging to the members didn't go as we would've liked but in terms of the relationship with the players involved and the honesty and integrity that was shown, I have absolutely no issue with that."
Rumours have surfaced on potential moves North could make in this year's trade period, including discussions involving last year's All Australian ruckman Todd Goldstein.
However, Scott was quick to dispel any speculation about Goldstein switching clubs.
"We've got an All Australian ruckman that our list management team worked really hard to re-sign for a long period of time so … I don't think trading away your good players is a good plan, especially one that's coming in the prime of his career like 'Goldy' is," Scott said.
The future of unrestricted free agent Daniel Wells is also under a cloud, while forward Jarrad Waite and big man Majak Daw remain uncontracted.
Scott was hopeful Wells would stay at the club and knock back a contract offer from Collingwood.
The Kangaroos' coach added Waite and Daw were also important members of the squad going forward.
"We're really keen to make sure that there's some solidarity and experience around our young key forwards because we have been to the draft basically every year for a decade," Scott said when asked about Waite.
"We expect (Daw will) get that (continuity) now and (with) a really clear run at it and injury-free, then I think he's going to be really exciting for us."
