Justin Leppitsch believes “luck” has a role to play in how different coaching careers pan out, using the example of premiership teammates Michael Voss and Chris Scott.
All three were part of Brisbane’s 2001 and 2002 premierships and have gone on to forge successful coaching careers, albeit in different ways.
Scott was appointed as head coach of Geelong for the 2011 season after finishing his playing career in 2007, while Voss retired in 2006 before becoming Brisbane’s senior coach in 2009.
Leppitsch believes Geelong’s football program allowed Scott to become a successful coach, while circumstances were different for Voss.
“Luck has a bit to play in some of these things,” he told SEN’s Whateley.
“Chris was only three years out of the game when he went to Geelong, but he went to a club that was such a fully supportive club, that understood the big picture.
“(Geelong were able) cut all the edges off Chris along the way, as he was on the job, so he had the beauty to be able to do that.
“Some clubs you don’t get that opportunity to do that, which would be similar to (Voss’) early days at Brisbane.
“Michael did take the Lions to a finals series, ironically in his first year. In his first year, he was probably the worst coach he’s ever been, and he was most successful.
“That is timely, in what team you have at what point.”
Voss was sacked by Brisbane in 2013 after missing the finals for four consecutive years and then took up an assistant coaching role at Port Adelaide.
He’s reportedly the front-runner for the coaching position at Carlton, and his former teammate Leppitsch believes both club and coach need to commit to each other.
“It’s just a matter of whether they do want to marry each other, do they want to get together long term and have that walk down the aisle?” he said.
“As long as the coach and club feel that connection together, I think all is good.”
Master coach Alastair Clarkson told Fox Footy’s AFL360 on Monday night that he did not want to coach in 2022, increasing Voss’ chances for the role at the Blues.