PREMIERSHIP coach Paul Roos is being considered as an official mentor for Rhyce Shaw at North Melbourne.

Following a dreadful finish to 2020 where they lost 14 of the final 15 matches, the Kangaroos have privately pledged to significantly bolster their support for Shaw, with Roos the most prominent name among those currently being canvassed. 

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Roos and Shaw developed a strong rapport from 2009, when as coach of Sydney he recruited Shaw to play after nine seasons at Collingwood. Shaw played in the John Longmire-coached 2012 Swans' premiership. 

It is believed the role under consideration for Roos at the Roos would be part-time. 

Roos, who steered the Swans to their first flag in 72 years in 2005, handed over the coaching reins to Longmire after the 2010 season. 

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He was then talked out of retirement by Melbourne CEO Peter Jackson, and stabilised that club as coach in 2014-16, before for the second time in his coaching life willingly walking away, with Simon Goodwin long identified as his successor. 

North Melbourne sacked senior assistant coach Jade Rawlings on Wednesday, just one season after it had signed him. It is expected there will be several other changes in the Roos' coaching structure. 

Eleven players were exited two weeks ago, and another, Ben Brown – the only AFL player to boot 60-plus goals in each of 2017, 2018 and 2019 - is also considering moving to a new club. 

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The contracted Shaun Higgins and Todd Goldstein are also being approached by rivals.