McDonald, who chaired the sub-committee that appointed Scott on Monday, said the club was in a unique position when considering its past players who had become senior and assistant coaches.
Darren Crocker, the interim coach since Dean Laidley's resignation mid-season, Anthony Rock (midfield) and Corey McKernan (ruck) remain from Laidley's staff while McDonald suggested others might be approached.
"North Melbourne is very fortunate," McDonald told kangaroos.com.au. "We've got an unbelievable history. We're a footy club that doesn't know what raising the white flag means.
"There are some awesome North Melbourne people out there. If we fill our footy department up with North Melbourne people again, and they're the best people, so be it.
"We're just going to go for the people who we think are going to help us get to where we want to get."
Scott suggested at his press conference on Monday that he was not planning to bring in a team of his own people, however, McDonald confirmed the current staff were all in a position to stay on.
Crocker will coach the club's remaining two games of 2009 and is contracted as an assistant for next year.
"There's a future here for everyone who we feel is going to have the capacity to contribute," McDonald said.
"We've got to be very honest with each other and all of our staff and we've got to be clear on what our expectations are.
"We've been a footy club that has treated our staff and our people with enormous respect throughout our history and that's not going to change."
And McDonald stressed his sub-committee was never discouraged from choosing a senior coach with a connection to the club.
Scott, a two-time Brisbane Lions premiership player and Collingwood assistant coach, beat Crocker and Hawthorn assistant Damien Hardwick for the job.
Crocker played 165 games for North, including the 1996 flag, while 1999 premiership player John Longmire – who withdrew from contention to stay at the Sydney Swans – enjoyed a 12-season career at Arden Street.
Hardwick had played reserves football with North before 209 games with Essendon and Port Adelaide.
McDonald said a starting date was yet to be decided for Scott, who has been released by the Magpies, but those discussions would be had this week.
"You've got to give him some head space," he said. "I've been very impressed with the way he's been respectful of Crock.
"He wants Crock to finish the job that he's started. Crock has been able to continue on the list development stuff that Dean has implemented. From that aspect, there are no worries at all."
He added that the club would have been happy for Scott to see out his duties with Collingwood.
