RHYCE Shaw was the busiest man in football for a period last year.
Fast-tracked from award-winning assistant coach to North Melbourne's caretaker coach and eventually Brad Scott's long-term successor, Shaw then found himself in an even rarer situation.
Scott wasn't the only prominent figure to depart Arden Street last year, with the Kangaroos replacing their chief executive and football and list bosses, among others.
New men are in place but complications and delays in doing so, such as West Coast barring Brady Rawlings from starting with North until December, meant the club was short for key events.
Enter Shaw, who by then was already responsible for a dramatic and positive shift in vibe at the club.
He became even more integral in list decisions, was the Roos' spokesperson during the Telstra AFL Trade Period – the only coach in that role – and dived into the draft process.
This, not even a full year after Collingwood's Nathan Buckley took a three-month pre-season sabbatical, with only brief appearances in between, to recharge after a gruelling 2018 campaign.
That was supposed to herald a new era in coach wellbeing.
SHAW DROPS THE 'F' WORD Kangaroos plot September comeback
Shaw fit in a fleeting visit to New Zealand over the Christmas break and about one month off in total, during which he struggled to stay away.
Now free of those extra responsibilities, Shaw is still adjusting to life as an AFL senior coach and the sacrifices that come with that.
The latest example was last week, when the father-of-two was unable to be there for his four-year-old son Freddie's first day of kinder. He also has a two-year-old, Louis.
"It makes me sick to the guts, because I've grown up in the Shaw family, who are tight and do everything together," Shaw told AFL.com.au.
"We're all about looking after each other and enjoying each other's company – and I'm missing that.
"My wife (Lia) and I knew that would come with the job, but it still doesn't make it any easier.
Even so, the brother of Greater Western Sydney's Heath and son and nephew of former Collingwood captains Ray and Tony, respectively, is more than willing to accept the workload.
Shaw wouldn't have taken on this "fantastic opportunity" otherwise, knowing the short-term pain involved would eventually be to his family's betterment.
"The thing with this job is it's such an adrenalin rush and people have to save you from yourself a little bit. But, I love it," he said.
"I love people and I've got my faults – I am not perfect, by any means, and that's why I've got people around me to support me."
Shaw went on to heap praise on the Rawlings brothers – new football boss Brady and senior assistant coach Jade – as well as head of performance Jason Lappin and head of development Gavin Brown.
Janet Fox, a club volunteer and mother of North's property steward Carly, scored a mention, too. Everyone has a role to play at the new North Melbourne.
So while the rookie coach was a pillar during the Kangaroos' time of need last year, he will lean on everyone else if the club is to achieve long-term success.
"I've surrounded myself with people I think complement what I do," Shaw said.
"The best thing I do is get the best out of people – and that's by having a relationship with them and understanding how to push their buttons.
"If I don't, I'll learn, but to surround myself with those people is really important to me, because I'm not perfect and far from it. I don't know everything."
