BRETT Kirk hasn’t ruled out pursuing a head coaching role in the AFL.
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Only days after joining Fremantle as an assistant coach under Ross Lyon, Kirk said he was eager to learn from the man he rates as having one of the best football brains in the business.
“My brother, when he finished school, became a plumber and had to do an apprenticeship so I just see this as my apprenticeship, learning as much as I can,” he said.
Kirk credits Lyon for bringing the best out of him as a player after he arrived at the Sydney Swans as a midfield coach in 2003 and the former North Albury star is hopeful the same will happen with his coaching.
“Ross came on board and I struck up a strong relationship with him built around trust and honesty,” Kirk said.
“Ross was the one that gave me the belief that not only do I need to stop my player, but if the ball was there to be won, I should get after it.
“He really helped me develop the two-way running and being able to nullify an opponent and win the footy.
“I really grew in confidence because of him.”
Lyon isn’t the only coach Kirk will be reunited with at Fremantle after he worked with stoppages coach Mark Stone in the Harbour City.
“‘Stoney’ and I go way back,” he says.
“I grew up in Albury and went to university in Wagga.
“In my last year of uni, I lived with ‘Stoney’ for a while.
“I got to know him and he just loves the game.
“He sees it really well.
“Our paths crossed again when he came over to coach in Sydney as a stoppages coach.”