Muller faced seemingly mission impossible when he became the youngest stand-alone coach in league history after the 2018 season (22 years and one month).

The Hoppers had lost most of the top five in their best and fairest, including high-profile West Adelaide recruit Chris Schmidt, games' record-holder Dan Leslie and the blistering Shaun Mannagh, who won the Did Simpson Medal in Lavington's premiership last year.

Written off by many pundits as unlikely to win a game, the Hoppers defied the odds to snare three wins in finishing eighth.

It was an enormous achievement from the first-year coach and he's revealed another who was heading into his second season was providing guidance.

"We just chat every now and then, he's (Sharp) always been very good to me," Muller said.

"He's sent the odd message, which is really good."

Sharp became the Saints' youngest coach when he signed in August, 2018. He was 23 years and seven months.

Myrtleford was last year's biggest story when it came from only four wins the previous season to the preliminary final.

"We just connected I suppose, first-year coaches together last year and the age bracket as well was probably another factor," Muller said.

"I suppose I looked up to him as well, what he's been able to do over his short stint back home (after five years with Werribee in the VFL).

"Jake's got the ability to get his players on the same page and he's got that level of sensitivity, being a schoolteacher, he's got that sensitivity towards the players, but also that ruthlessness on the field, the way he leads, he leads by example."

In the often dog-eat-dog world of football, Sharp's willingness to help another rookie coach is testament to his standing in the game.

But it certainly won't surprise a former Werribee team-mate and now O and M opponent.

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Lavington gun Nick Meredith was asked, when Sharp was appointed, what his strengths were after living with and playing alongside him.

"He's a great leader, I'll tell you that much, he's mature for his age," Meredith said in August, 2018.

"He's like (Collingwood captain Scott) Pendlebury, he's not fast, he's not strong, he just finds space and uses the ball really well.

"He's good at driving people and holding standards high.

"He'll bring the best out of the young blokes anyway."

He certainly did, but the coronavirus crisis has thrown enormous doubt over whether Sharp can take it another step this year.