Collingwood’s search for a new senior coach is underway following Nathan Buckley’s resignation on Wednesday.
Buckley will coach his final game against Melbourne on Queen’s Birthday with Magpies assistant Robert Harvey named as interim coach for the rest of the season.
Kane Cornes floated a potential Collingwood coaching succession plan involving Port Adelaide premiership coach and Melbourne development coach, Mark Williams, and highly rated Hawthorn assistant coach Sam Mitchell.
Currently coaching VFL club Box Hill, Mitchell is Alastair Clarkson’s understudy at the Hawks and is tipped to eventually succeed Clarkson whose contract is up in 2022.
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“I just wonder whether Mark Williams is worth ringing – actually – I know that he’s worth ringing,” Cornes told SEN SA Breakfast.
“I think something unique but something a bit innovative, maybe a Williams-Mitchell combination where Mark Williams at his age coaches for two years at Collingwood, helps develop the young group, they’re in a rebuilding phase with a lot of players coming through, they’re going to go to the draft again next year, we know no one in the country is better with young players than Mark Williams.
“To have him there at the helm for two years with Sam Mitchell underneath him and transition that way until Sam is ready, I think is a combination that could absolutely work at Collingwood.
“Yes, it’s a little bit different, it’s something that they probably wouldn’t have considered before, but I think that’s a partnership that could work at Collingwood.”
Geelong assistant coach Matthew Knights is a potential candidate Collingwood should consider interviewing for the senior job, according to Tim Watson.
“Matthew Knights is definitely somebody who should be looked at,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“He got the Essendon job I think before he was ready to be a senior coach. He has a wealth of experience now as an assistant.
“He has to be better and more understanding of the complete role as he was as a young coach.
“I would definitely interview Matthew Knights. 100 per cent I would.”