Justin Leppitsch has responded to a report linking him to a role at Collingwood, conceding he will “probably have conversations” with potential suitors in the coming weeks.
It was reported in The Age on Saturday that Leppitsch was “in the frame” to join the Pies as a senior assistant as the club looks to strengthen its coaching group.
Leppitsch, who is currently taking a break from working at an AFL club after ending his time as a Richmond assistant coach at the end of last year, said he would “never say never” to any potential role in the AFL system.
“I don’t know how this stuff starts but it’s nice to be thought of,” he said on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“You never say never in anything, that’s my philosophy in life. I probably will have conversations over the course of the year as it unfolds with lots of things and different roles, but I don’t know what it looks like yet.
“The thought of going full bore into assistant coaching is something I’m going to probably move away from, it was just the cut and thrust of that position and the draining nature of it.
“I’ve done it and you want to try and move on and do something else, but apart from that you never say never in these sorts of things.”
Leppitsch has impressed many in the footy world with his media work on SEN’s Whateley and AFL Nation this season as well as coaching Peninsula Grammar, saying he’s welcomed the change of pace after nearly three decades in the system as a player and coach.
“I’m enjoying what I’m doing this year as much as I’m missing footy, I’m enjoying this first,” he said.
“It doesn’t mean I’ll never go back to it, but the break has been terrific as you get stuck in the weeds (in the system) and learning more about the media and other parts of the footy world has been a fantastic learning experience and one I’ve wanted to do.
“When you get stuck doing 28 years of the one thing pretty much, you can get institutionalised so I’ve enjoyed the break from that.
“No I don’t miss footy and (media work) is exactly what I’ve wanted to do this year.”