AFL premiership coach Paul Roos happy to help out at Wangaratta Rovers

Paul Roos provided a helping hand to Daryn Cresswell and his coaching staff in the Hawks' impressive win against reigning premiers Lavington in the season opener.

The Fitzroy and Sydney great, who went on to coach the Swans to a drought-breaking premiership in 2005, has been around the Rovers camp with his son, Tyler, at the club this season.

Roos spent time in the coaches' box against the Panthers and also worked alongside Cresswell on the bench in the final quarter.

Hawks' football operations manager Barry Sullivan said Roos will help out when free of commitments at North Melbourne as a football department consultant.

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"He's very knowledgeable and would be the envy of most AFL clubs to have him sitting on the bench helping coach," Sullivan said.

"He's been very interested in getting involved in a voluntary capacity when he can and share his wisdom. I've seen him sitting with some of our younger players with his hand on their shoulder giving them a bit of advice and it's been fantastic.

"We're certainly not going to discourage him from getting involved.

"He and 'Crezza' have a long-standing relationship over the years and we're very grateful for anything he can bring to the table.

"He's not overbearing, he just likes to make observations and what he says makes absolute sense.

"He acknowledges the stuff we're doing and reinforces it's the right thing to do."

North Melbourne played Western Bulldogs on Good Friday, and with the Rovers' game against Albury on Saturday a twilight fixture, Roos is a chance to make the trip.

"Obviously there's no obligation from our point of view, it's where he can when he can and we're certainly going to encourage it," Sullivan added.

Roos will be a special guest at the club's sportsman's night at Wangaratta's Gateway Hotel on April 10, with former Melbourne player David Schwarz the MC.

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