Darren Crocker has been handed the perfect opportunity to convince the North Melbourne hierarchy he has what it takes to be their next fulltime AFL senior coach.

Two days after being appointed the Kangaroos' caretaker coach for the remainder of 2009 following the shock departure of Dean Laidley, Crocker made it clear he wants the job on a permanent basis.

"It's something that has been in the back of my mind but has come to the forefront in the last couple of years," said Crocker, 42, who has served a long apprenticeship at Richmond and North Melbourne as well as a short stint as head coach of VFL club Port Melbourne.

"The coaches I've worked with have been fantastic, the coaches I've played under I've learnt a hell of a lot from and I really think I now have something to offer as a coach.

"There's no doubt that I want to coach senior football and I think I'm well equipped to coach senior football.

"But the club will have a process in place."

Former Collingwood champion Nathan Buckley is sure to be high on North's wish-list for 2010 onwards, having expressed a willingness to move from the commentary booth to the coaches box.

Other current assistants with impressive North playing pedigrees such as John Longmire and David King are also likely to apply for the position.

But Crocker will also be seriously considered, especially if can turn around the club's disappointing 2009 season, starting against the Western Bulldogs on June 28.

"The apprenticeship I've done is obviously a real benefit, but I think my biggest strength is my people skills," said Crocker.

"I can relate to people, I think I have a really strong rapport with the players.

"I'll now stand up in front of them as the senior coach.

"There's obviously going to be that distinction in how we go about things professionally, but I don't think that will change me as a person."

Crocker played 165 games with Kangaroos from 1987-98 and was a teammate of two players still on the list - skipper Brent Harvey and his predecessor Adam Simpson.

Both have pledged their full support to the caretaker coach.

And Harvey is also well-placed to offer more practical assistance, with the lightning-quick midfielder likely to return against the Bulldogs after nine weeks on the sidelines with a dislocated elbow.

"He's pushing very, very hard to play," said Crocker.

"... you talk about high performance and preparation, the way he's gone about it, he's just smashed himself in the rehab and he's prepared himself as well as you would expect."

Crocker would not be drawn on the intangible benefits a cash-strapped club like North could gain from appointing a high-profile candidate like Buckley to replace Laidley.

He preferred to focus on what he and the playing group could achieve in the remaining 10 weeks from a season that has yielded only four wins from 12 matches.

"We want to play an exciting brand of football that brings our supporters and members through the gates and has them really excited," Crocker said.

"We're looking to remain very uncompromising with the way we go about our football.

"I think that has been a trademark of this football club for a long time."

In other coaching news, Collingwood defender Heath Shaw has paid tribute to Mick Malthouse, who becomes the third man to coach 600 VFL/AFL games in Saturday night's clash with Sydney.

Malthouse is one of five current coaches out of contract at the end of 2009, but the Magpies insist they won't review his position until season's end.

"He's been great to me. This is my sixth year, Mick's shown a lot of confidence in me and he's a good coach, it's as simple as that," said Shaw.

"He's played in premierships, he's coached premierships and he's coached a lot of finals series and that's what we're aiming for this year.

"Whatever happens after that is not in the players' hands at all."

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