Undeterred by the trials and tribulations of great mate Michael Voss, Simon Black is keen to be the next Brisbane Lions premiership star to coach in the AFL.
Black on Wednesday revealed his enthusiasm to move into the coaches’ box after a glittering 315-game career comes to an expected end this season.
The triple-premiership winner and 2002 Brownlow Medallist is already playing a mentoring role to the Lions’ young midfield division and would be an attractive assistant coach candidate for 2014.
“I’ve definitely got a real interest in coaching and trying to help the younger guys in my team,” Black said.
“Whether it’s a full-time career … I’m not 100 per cent sure at the moment.
“But I love the game and love trying to improve the team’s performance so certainly it’s definitely something I’m interested in down the track.”
A Lions official said it was too early to comment about whether the club was aiming to keep the 34-year-old at the Gabba in their football department in 2014.
Despite the off-contract Voss being under immense pressure after a 2-5 start to the year, his fifth in charge at Brisbane, the Lions’ golden era under Leigh Matthews has produced a number of promising coaching careers.
The Scott brothers, Chris at Geelong and Brad at North Melbourne, have impressed as head coaches while Justin Leppitsch (Richmond) and Nigel Lappin (Geelong) are highly regarded assistants.
Shaun Hart is a reserves coach at Gold Coast, Luke Power is an assistant at Greater Western Sydney and Craig McRae is a member of the Collingwood coaching panel.
It’s tracking to be a similar production line to what Hawthorn mustered in the 1980s.
Port Adelaide, who beat Brisbane in 2004 grand final after three previous minor premierships, have already produced several coaches from that era including Damien Hardwick, Brendon Lade and Matthew Primus.
Black, who returned from knee surgery last Saturday to play his first game of 2013, confirmed his 16th campaign was “more than likely” to be his farewell season.
“I haven’t made a definitive call at this stage but it’s looking like that,” he said.
The Lions are looking to recall luckless utility Brent Staker for his first game of the year against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Staker, who has played just five matches in the past two years due to two knee reconstructions, trained with the main group in a closed session at the Gabba on Wednesday morning.
AAP jsm/jds