North Melbourne legend and development coach Brent Harvey has weighed in on the Kangaroos' coaching search, revealing that he believes the club should be seeking out an experienced figurehead as they try to lift themselves from their lowly spot on the AFL ladder.
The Kangaroos parted ways with senior coach David Noble earlier in the week, with VFL coach Leigh Adams taking top spot in the interim as the club searches for a new coach.
Geoff Walsh's review into the club's football department is still ongoing, though club president Sonja Hood revealed at Noble's departure press conference that "wholesale change" was not expected at the club.
Occupying the bottom spot on the ladder and looking like firm favourites for the wooden spoon, North Melbourne are in the midst of what is expected to be a multi-year rebuild, with Harvey admitting that the next coaching appointment is a massive moment for the club.
Speaking on RSN Breakfast Club, the five-time best and fairest detailed the recent changes at Arden Street after a tumultuous few years.
"There's been so much change. Most of the people at our football club never worked with Brad Scott, don't even know Brad Scott," Harvey said.
"Then we had Rhyce Shaw for the twelve months and now we've had David Noble for nearly two years. I think our next appointment is huge in terms of the history of our club and the future of our football club.
"The next coaching appointment is big. Really big."
When asked of the calibre of coach the Roos should be searching for, Harvey admitted that the club should seek out a more experienced name after the departures of both Rhyce Shaw and David Noble.
"I don't know where the football club wants to go exactly as we haven't had those conversations just yet. I think we've had Rhyce Shaw, an untried coach. David Noble, who's so much more experienced, but had never coached his own team at AFL level. So maybe it is that experienced guy ... I think that's the obvious," Harvey said.
Alastair Clarkson has been linked to the open coaching vacancy, with the legendary coach having left Hawthorn last season. While the 54-year-old has been the subject of much speculation throughout the year, with a job available at GWS too, Harvey also mentioned the names of Justin Leppitsch and Ross Lyon, among others, as suitable candidates for his former club.
"When you say experienced, you don't have to go out and get your Alastair Clarkson's," he said.
"He's (Leppitsch) not the experienced-experienced, but someone like that who's had two or three years.
"I know that the obvious name will keep popping up, whether that happens, I've got zero idea. I think the football club will do absolutely everything to get the right person, they have to."
