Rhyce Shaw is confident North Melbourne will bounce back from its loss to the GWS Giants on Sunday, and use the mid-season break to springboard into the second half of the season.

While the Giants’ midfield class ultimately proved the difference in a 23-point loss, the Roos' interim coach said there was plenty to look forward to in the final nine rounds.

“It’s never a great feeling to lose,” Shaw said after his first defeat. 

“I’m pretty disappointed, but I’m also optimistic about where we are going and where we’re headed.

“We’ve got nine games after the bye to really do something and I don’t see any reason why we can’t do that.

“Even though we lost tonight, there’s still signs we can do something in the second half of the year.”

Shaw pointed to Tarryn Thomas as a player North fans can be excited about for years to come.

The Rising Star nominee booted two goals, but also impacted in an unfamiliar role late in the match. 

“He went into the midfield in the last quarter and I think he got the first two clearances, so that was a really pleasing sign,” Shaw said.

“He looked pretty damaging in the first quarter, but then in the last quarter he went in (the middle) to give us a bit of a spark. He provided us with a little bit, which was good.”

The teams went into half-time level on 45 points apiece, but ultimately the visitors’ midfield dominance took its toll.

The Giants boasted a +15 clearance differential for the day.

“It was an interesting game. It was a weird game statistically, but in terms of how the game was won, it was in the midfield for GWS,” Shaw admitted.

“They got us towards the end. In that second half, they really showed their capabilities.

“In terms of numbers, they outscored us pretty heavily from clearances and we were pretty undisciplined in terms of our free kicks at those pre-clearance stoppages.

“Their class getting to that outside ball really hurt us.”

Shaw said his players could take positives from the first two quarters. 

“I think our guys really fought hard to be in that position (level at half-time),” he continued.

“Our defence stood up pretty well in the first half, and when we went inside (50) in the first half, we actually scored.

“That’s something we can hang our hats on a little bit, but it’s just the consistency across the four quarters to get it done against a quality team.”