Rhyce Shaw is certainly giving North Melbourne's coaching committee something to think about.
After another tough week at Arden Street, the Kangaroos' interim coach inspired another tough win.
In many ways, North Melbourne's upset 44-point victory over flag fancies Collingwood was reflective of what Shaw presents to the media – and his players – each week.
The Roos were no-fuss, yet not afraid to show off their personality. Remind you of anyone?
The 11.15 (81) to 5.7 (37) scoreline at Marvel Stadium perhaps didn't do justice to North Melbourne's dominance over the contest. It remarkably kept Collingwood to its lowest score in more than 24 years, while missing a host of opportunities itself in attack.
Not that Shaw would have cared too much.
After Taylor Garner was suspended for an alleged bar fight during the club's break – and after the departure of footy boss Cam Joyce was confirmed – North Melbourne's performance ensured the week would instead be remembered for something positive.
Its leaders were crucial in laying the foundations for victory.
Jack Ziebell (25 disposals, seven clearances, three goals) was imposing in the midfield and a constant threat when he pushed forward, while the recently re-signed Ben Cunnington (37 disposals, seven clearances) was typically combative out of the centre all night.
Ben Brown (zero goals, four behinds) might have been wayward in front of goal, but it hardly mattered on a night when North Melbourne's record under Shaw improved to 3-1.
For his opposite number, Nathan Buckley, there was little improvement from last week.
Having been heavily and unusually critical of his side's performance in a narrow victory over the Western Bulldogs, things went from bad to worse under the roof at Marvel Stadium.
His side lost key players Ben Reid and Brayden Sier to injury, but that was no excuse as the Pies conceded the inside 50 count by a staggering 29 entries in a dismal performance.
The individual display of Adam Treloar (39 disposals, 10 clearances, seven tackles) was one of few positives on a night Collingwood will hope to quickly forget.
If Buckley was concerned last week, the first quarter on Saturday night was nightmarish.
Having lost Reid to a calf injury just three minutes into the contest, Collingwood could have found itself with a significant early deficit to compound its medical issues.
Only some disappointing inaccuracy from North Melbourne –kicking five behinds before registering its first goal – kept the margin from ballooning before quarter-time.
In reality, the Kangaroos should have been much further than just 10 points clear at the first change. In an otherwise even game, they were lucky not to rue the fact they weren't.
Despite momentarily relinquishing their lead early in the second term, the Kangaroos still appeared in complete control of the contest. They soon had the advantage back and, with players dropping like flies to injury on both sides, it was Shaw's mob that seized the momentum.
North kicked four consecutive goals on either side of half-time, stretching its lead to a size its dominance probably warranted, with a depleted Collingwood seemingly helpless.
Eventually, that spell saw the dam burst. The Roos ultimately kicked four of five goals in the third quarter, building an insurmountable lead that resulted in an elementary final term.
An unfortunate Achilles injury to debutant Kyron Hayden was the only blip on an otherwise thoroughly satisfying hour of footy for the Kangaroos.
Having performed admirably down back, Darcy Moore was thrown forward in the fourth quarter. But it provided little inspiration.
Instead, Luke Davies-Uniacke continued the party for North Melbourne at the opposite end of the field, adding two more late goals as the Kangaroos stormed to victory.
MEDICAL ROOM
Collingwood: Ben Reid went straight down to the rooms in the opening minutes of the clash, having hurt his calf while landing from a marking contest. He sat out the remainder of the game. Brayden Sier was crunched late in the second quarter, succumbing to concussion and failing to play any of the second half.
North Melbourne: Kyron Hayden's AFL debut came to an unfortunate early end when he hurt his Achilles just prior to half-time. The young midfielder had looked at ease at senior level, but appeared to hurt himself in an innocuous incident that occurred off the ball.
NEXT UP
Collingwood faces a six-day turnaround before meeting Hawthorn in a blockbuster Friday night clash at the MCG, while North Melbourne heads to Hobart to meet St Kilda on Sunday.
COLLINGWOOD 1.3 3.3 4.4 5.7 (37)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.7 4.8 8.14 11.15 (81)
GOALS
Collingwood: Cox 2, Mihocek, Phillips, De Goey
North Melbourne: Ziebell 3, Turner 2, Davies-Uniacke 2, Wood, Thomas, Polec, Larkey
BEST
Collingwood: Treloar, Moore, Phillips, Pendlebury, Greenwood
North Melbourne: Ziebell, Cunnington, Pittard, Simpkin, Anderson, Atley, Thompson
INJURIES
Collingwood: Aish (hamstring) replaced in selected side in Scharenberg, Reid (calf), Sier (concussion)
North Melbourne: Hayden (Achilles)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Haussen, Chamberlain, Whetton
Official crowd: 38,801 at Marvel Stadium
