Leigh Adams says his task in "work experience" as North Melbourne's caretaker coach is to leave the struggling AFL club in a better position.
Spirits are high at Arden St after the Kangaroos broke a 14-game losing streak by upsetting Richmond, just four days after the sacking of coach David Noble.
Pressure was relieved on the playing group after the stunning four-point triumph but the spectre of a review into the football department and talks surrounding the next full-time coach looms large.
North hierarchy have also commenced talks with the AFL about applying for a priority pick after a horror last three seasons.
Adams, who played 104 games for North between 2007 and 2014, is simply attempting to live in the moment knowing he is unlikely to become the full-time coach.
The Kangaroos' No.1 target is four-time Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson.
"I've got five weeks of work experience to go where I get to live in the senior coach's shoes and see if it's something that I like," Adams told reporters on Wednesday.
"I've been very lucky that the media has been nice, got to win a game of footy.
"Does that change after a few losses? Maybe, so then I'll get the full spectrum of a senior coach.
"One coach (Noble) has already gone and the likelihood is more might go depending on who gets the senior job.
"After this five weeks we just want to make sure we put this group and club in a better spot than when we got here."
Adams admitted there were holes in North's list despite the club's president Sonja Hood describing it as "great".
He believes the young players are talented but "unproven" and they need more support from footballers in their mid-to-late 20s.
Adams sees only positive things coming out of experienced football administrator Geoff Walsh's review as he reports back to the board.
"What hopefully will come out of it is you'll see there's a lot of good work going on at this footy club, good people putting in time and effort," Adams said.
"Whatever comes out of it, it's going to make our footy club better.
"We want to be back playing finals and big marquee games again."
North host Hawthorn in Hobart on Saturday in another winnable game for the Kangaroos.