Collingwood coaching job: Pies seeking out Power assistant Michael Voss

AFL legend Michael Voss has received a huge endorsement after being approached about succeeding Nathan Buckley as Collingwood coach.

Collingwood has sounded out Michael Voss as part of its hunt for a new senior coach.

The Magpies have informally approached the Port Adelaide senior assistant and three-time Brisbane premiership player after news last week that Sam Mitchell had pulled out of the process.

Voss, 46, is now expected to take part in the formal interview process as Collingwood searches for its 20th coach in 119 years after axing Nathan Buckley.

Voss was the hot favourite to win Carlton’s vacant coaching job in 2019 before caretaker David Teague delivered five wins from his first seven games in charge.

Voss joined the Power in 2015 as midfield coach and was promoted to senior assistant in 2019.

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Michael Voss has been informally approached by Collingwood for the vacant senior coaching job. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

Power coach Ken Hinkley said Voss was “more than ready” for a second crack in the hot seat.

“He’s been a high-quality assistant for me,” Hinkley said.

“He’s been a great support and help all the way through. I can only wish him all the success and if anyone is looking for a great person and a great coach, Michael Voss would be someone that you should certainly talk to.”

It comes as former Adelaide senior coach and current Sydney assistant Don Pyke revealed he was “thinking about” a run at the high profile job.

Voss coached Brisbane Lions from 2009-2013 but was sacked before the end of his final season with a 43-1-65 record from 109 games.

The 1996 Brownlow Medallist and five-time All-Australian coached FOX8’s The Recruit in 2014 before returning to the AFL in 2015 at Alberton.

It is widely accepted the Lions appointed Voss far too early in his development and he is now much better placed to coach an AFL club.

The fearless midfielder would be well-equipped to handle the pressure of steering one of Australia’s biggest sporting clubs and succeeding club legend Nathan Buckley.

The Magpies have made contact with several possible candidates in recent weeks although it is understood interviews have not begun.

Collingwood is also open to giving a sacked coach a second chance and Voss, Don Pyke (Adelaide 2016-19), Mark Williams (1999-2010) and Ross Lyon (Fremantle 2012-19) all fit that criteria.

Don Pyke is considering putting his hat into the ring. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Lyon led St Kilda to three grand finals before joining the Dockers in a bombshell move, where he was let go two years ago.

Williams, 62, led Port to its only AFL premiership in 2004 and was a surprise appointment at Melbourne as development coach this year.

“As we went through it we were just super impressed with ‘Choco’,” Demons boss Gary Pert said last month.

“We knew it would stir some things up, and sometimes the way he goes about it is a little bit different, but he has very high expectations and he expects players to operate at a high standard.”

Some respected industry figures believe Pyke would be a logical fit for Collingwood.

Pyke’s winning record of 70.4 per cent in his first two years before the pre-season camp disaster was extraordinary and his offensive nous would add to the strong defensive layers already ingrained by Buckley at the Magpies.

The Crows averaged 110.2 points in 2016-17. Pyke, who joined Sydney Swans as an assistant this season, confirmed he was considering applying for the vacant Magpies job.

“There’s conversations I’m having with my wife and myself, to be honest,” Pyke told ABC.

“Is that the next step for me, is the timing right for me? It’ll be an alignment of all those things, and I’ll reach a decision on what it is and whether I throw my hat in the ring, time will tell.”

Originally published as Collingwood coaching job: Pies seeking out Power assistant Michael Voss