NORTH Melbourne is yet to receive details on how its shared-flight arrangement with Essendon will work but coach Rhyce Shaw says the Roos must find a way to adapt.
Both clubs play in New South Wales on the Sunday of the revamped round two fixture, with the AFL's preference to minimise travel meaning they will travel to and from Sydney together.
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North takes on Greater Western Sydney at Giants Stadium at 1.05pm AEST, while the Bombers face Sydney at the SCG at 3.35pm, so there will be waiting around either side for the two teams.
"We actually haven't got full clarification around that but we'll see how it goes," Shaw told reporters at Arden Street on Tuesday.
"Again, we just have to do it. If we get the opportunity to play, we'll play.
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"If we have to share with another team, we'll do that. It's not ideal, especially with that team, and we'll just see how we go," he joked.
Players will in most cases, at least initially, have to travel interstate and home again on the same day, as opposed to arriving sometimes two days prior to a game.
Even still, Shaw swatted away questions about the difficulties all footballers will have to endure in this unique, COVID-19-affected season.
"It's obviously not ideal but again we have to do it, so let's get our heads around it," he said.
"We'd love to travel the night before, feel really comfortable and get up in the morning and go for a walk and do that type of thing but we'll be ready.
"We'll come up with some protocols ourselves around what that looks like, especially with a 1pm game with the travel and early morning, but we'll be right, we'll be fine and we'll make the most of it."
Shaw said captain Jack Ziebell had recovered well from the high-grade medial strain he sustained in the come-from-behind round one win over St Kilda and was set to play the Giants.
Others such as Paul Ahern (hamstring) and Ed Vickers-Willis (knee) are in a similar position, while Josh Walker (concussion) and Majak Daw (illness) are ready to go.
Daw last played at senior level in round 23, 2018 and his potential selection will likely depend on the Kangaroos playing taller down back that in their season opener.
The likes of Kayne Turner (sesamoid fracture under left big toe), Luke Davies-Uniacke (groin) and Ben Jacobs (concussion) won't be available.
Shaw confirmed spots would be up for grabs in round two and that training form would be rewarded in the next couple of weeks.
"Some of our form was a bit mixed in round one and some guys played some really good footy for the whole game but then there were guys who played patchy games of footy," the coach said.
"We're basing it on training form at the moment, so guys in good form, looking good and have done the work – we're really keen to give them the opportunity.
"We've got our first main contact session today and they're so important, because there are not many of them and we've really emphasised that going into this week.
"The boys have just got to perform, so whoever is in the best form gets a game."
