Peter Sumich emerges as candidate for Collingwood job

“If someone came knocking on the door, no doubt (I’d be interested). But we’ll wait and see.”

SUBSCRIBER | June 12, 2021 - 11:50am

West Coast great Peter Sumich has put his hat in the ring for the vacant Collingwood coaching role.

Collingwood will officially part ways with coach Nathan Buckley after their game against Melbourne on Monday, with Robert Harvey to take over for the rest of the season.

So far only one name has been seriously linked with the Collingwood job. Former St Kilda and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has been strongly tied with the job and he has said he "would take the call."

Sumich shares that sentiment. Speaking to Fox Sports News, Sumich said he'd open to discussing the role with the "biggest club in the country".

“If someone came knocking on the door, no doubt (I’d be interested). But we’ll wait and see,” he said.

Peter Sumich would be an ideal candidate for Carlton. Picture: Michael Dodge. .

“I think I’ve done everything possible - coached my own side in the WAFL, spent 15 years as a senior assistant at AFL level, coached the young kids for four years which was a great experience to understand the young kids coming through the system and now spending a year in the media is an eye-opener for me as well.

“I’ve ticked a lot of boxes - we’ll wait and see. If someone knocks on the door, you never say never.”

The 53-year-old worked as an assistant to John Worsfold at West Coast for ten years. Sumich then headed for rivals Fremantle at the end of the 2011 season.

He served as an assistant under Lyon during his time at Fremantle.

While Sumich said he would be keen to engage in discussions with the Pies about the role, he acknowledged that Lyon was the frontrunner and arguably the best man for the job.

“I just think Ross is the best credentialed coach right now to take over Collingwood, which is the biggest club in Australia,” he said.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: Dockers assistant coach Peter Sumich and head coach Ross Lyon walk from the coaches box after being defeated during the round six AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Patersons Stadium on April 25, 2014 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

“He needs the right people around him, that’s the key. If he gets the right people around him he can really bring some success to Collingwood in the coming years.

“It might take him two or three years to get the club going again ... maybe even (Michael) Voss, he’s the next one in line I think.

“He’s already coached and he’s thereabouts and doing a great job at Port Adelaide so those two would fit the bill for me at Collingwood.”