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PORT Adelaide coach Matthew Primus says he'd be in favour of following the example set by several other clubs in hiring a director of coaching.
The Power added four former players to their coaching panel late last year in Shaun Rehn, Brad Gotch, Tyson Edwards and Josh Carr, joining former Swan Matthew Nicks, ex-Cat Garry Hocking and former Saint Daniel Healy, but missing is a high-profile ex-coach.
Essendon front man James Hird has former Geelong premiership coach Mark Thompson while two-time Adelaide premiership coach Malcolm Blight was this week appointed Gold Coast's director of coaching.
While Port Adelaide's Gotch is an experienced coach, having worked as a development coach at Collingwood, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs and mentoring Williamstown to a premiership in the VFL in 2003, Primus suggested the hunt for assistance wasn't over yet.
"If the right person became available we'd certainly look at it," Primus said.
"You always want to try and see what's the best fit and what you think you need and what best fits the way you want to play the game and the way you want to coach."
Thompson's appointment at Essendon brought instant success in 2011, helping the Bombers reach the finals after they finished 14th the year before.
His assistance has continued to pay dividends in the coaching box, with the side well placed to challenge for a spot in the top four.
Primus said he didn't believe a former AFL coach was necessarily the way to go, depending on what they brought to the table, but admitted the hiring of a senior assistant was something the Power would be interested in.
"I think a few clubs are going down that path (of hiring a senior assistant) … for me it's if you've got a person who you think can really bring some quality to you and add value to you," he said.
"We'd certainly look around and see who's available, just [because someone has] experience or senior capabilities doesn't mean they're the person who needs to fill the spot.
"If you weigh it up and if it would actually add value to me as a coach and us as a footy club, then yes we would."
Harry Thring covers Port Adelaide news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry
