Hardly fazed by Malcolm Blight’s appointment as Gold Coast coaching director, Suns mentor Guy McKenna said he had been seeking the Brownlow Medallist’s advice for years.
Eyebrows were raised when Blight – a dual premiership coach with Adelaide – stepped down this week as a director of the AFL club and was handed the new part-time role to support McKenna.
It came barely a month after the Suns had re-signed McKenna for two more seasons.
Blight is expected to be in the coach’s box with McKenna for Sunday’s clash with Geelong at Metricon Stadium.
However, McKenna said Blight had given him advice for years at the Suns.
“At a board level, I’ve constantly sought him (Blight) out,” he said on Saturday.
“He’s the first one to say it’s (coaching) tough.
“This year he’s sat at home and watched us from afar, so it’s certainly something we’ve spoken about even since the 18s (2009) and VFL (2010) days.
“The role will be, he sits and mentors the coaches and helps out with our week-to-week coaching with the boys and match day as well.
“So I think it’s a step in the right direction, for sure.”
Blight has already made his presence felt at training this week as the Gold Coast look to snap a 20-game losing run – including a 0-13 streak this season.
But AFL legend Leigh Matthews questioned the worth of Cairns-based Blight’s appointment.
“In the fulltime era it is very hard for part-time people to be of much value,” he said on AFL.com.au website.
“Unless you are there all of the time, all you can be is a bit of an observer of the management and the group mechanics.”
Blight may not like what he sees on Sunday.
The last time the Gold Coast played Geelong they were thumped by 150 – and another hiding may be on the cards if they dish up the same effort from their last-start 126 point loss to West Coast.
“The only way we can get better ourselves is to play against the best and compete for longer,” said McKenna who welcomes back Michael Rischitelli, Campbell Brown and Jarrod Harbrow from injury.
McKenna wasn’t the only one seeking help this week.
Mathew Stokes and teammate Taylor Hunt will run out for Geelong still stinging from the jibes they copped after needing to be rescued at the Gold Coast’s notorious Kurrawa beach during the team’s week-long stay on the glitter strip.
On Sunday, the Cats will try to keep their finals hopes afloat.
Another big win over the Gold Coast will provide a welcome boost to their percentage.
Geelong are in the group of contenders jostling for a spot in the bottom half of the top eight and need to start chalking up convincing victories.
Easier said than done with Collingwood, Essendon, Adelaide, Hawthorn and West Coast coming up after the Suns.
