Richard Douglas in the mix for a coaching role at Box Hill after meeting with Alistair Clarkson

Former Adelaide Crow Richard Douglas has confirmed he has caught up with Alastair Clarkson about a playing and coaching role at Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate next year.

• Richard Douglas retires from AFL football
• How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription

Former Adelaide Crow utility Richard Douglas has confirmed he’s in the mix for a playing and coaching role at Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate Box Hill in 2020.

Douglas met with four-time Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson regarding the role after calling time on his career with the Crows.

“It’s a great opportunity, he certainly didn’t offer to me there are a few other people that he’s looking at for the role,’’ Douglas said on SEN SA Breakfast.

“A bit of a development role at the Hawks and Box Hill would be an exciting opportunity,’’ he said.

Replay the 2019 Toyota AFL Grand Final in full on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >

Adelaide Crows' Richard Douglas retires from the game. Picture Sarah Reed

Douglas said a career in coaching was something he’d been working towards late in his playing career with Adelaide.

“It’s certainly something I’ve been working towards in the last three or four years of my career,’’ Douglas added,

“Looking to still play football, I don’t want to totally close that door at the moment, so a playing slash coaching role did excite me.

“Whether it be at Hawthorn or another club I’m not sure,’’ he said.

Recently retired GWS and former Richmond star Brett Deledio is believed the front runner for the role while another former Crow — Andy Otten — and Sydney’s Nick Smith have also been linked.

Douglas said it was great to be able to talk football with arguably the greatest coach of the modern era.

“He’s a really down to earth guy,’’ Douglas added.

“Talked about footy and life, two hours probably felt like half an hour, to do that with four-time premiership coach was pretty amazing,’’ he said.

Richard Douglas gets chaired off after his final game. Picture: Michael Klein

Five current AFL senior coaches have worked under Clarkson at Hawthorn in recent years.

Luke Beveridge, Damien Hardwick, Leon Cameron, Adam Simpson and Chris Fagan were all working at Hawthorn while Brendon Bolton has returned the Hawks after his leaving Carlton mid-season.

Douglas said there was already a positive vibe around the Crows following the appointment of Matthew Nicks as the senior coach.

“The vibe around the lace has become a lot more positive,’’ Douglas added.

“I’m looking forward to see what they can produce in 2020.

“The club needed change,’’ he said.

Douglas said Adelaide had struggled to recover from the heartbreak of their 2017 grand final loss to Richmond.

“There was a lot of disappointment and heartache form 2017,’’ Douglas said.

“And we never really recovered.

“I’m really confident in Matty Nicks and team he’s got around that he’ll be able to turn it around pretty quickly,’’ he said.

Originally published as Richard Douglas in the mix for a coaching role at Box Hill after meeting with Alistair Clarkson