Collingwood has appointed Luke Ball to the sub-commitee tasked with finding the clubs next AFL coach.

Ball, who played 81 games for the Pies, joins Collingwood Chief Executive Mark Anderson, Collingwood GM of Football Graham Wright, football director Paul Licuria and board member Peter Murphy on the panel.

Former coach Nathan Buckley stepped down earlier this year after a disastrous start to the season left the Pies with just four wins from 14 games. Assistant coach Robert Harvey has stepped in as caretaker coach, reshuffling the coaches box with Scott Selwood now taking Brenton Sanderson's position as the midfield coach.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 30: Magpies coach Nathan Buckley thanks the crowd after winning the round 14 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Collingwood Magpies at The Gabba on August 30, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Speaking on the appointment, Pies CEO Anderson spoke highly of Ball and his off-field character, having worked with both the AFL Player’s Association and at Essendon.

“Luke is an outstanding football person, someone all in the game respect for his great character and acumen. His perspectives and abilities will be a certain asset as we embark on the process of seeking our next senior AFL coach,” Anderson said.

Don Pyke is reportedly in consideration for the top job after coaching Adelaide to a Grand Final in 2017, while Hawthorn assistant coaches Sam Mitchell and Craig McRae have also been mentioned in the coaching conversation.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Don Pyke, Senior Coach of the Crows during the 2019 AFL round 12 match between the Adelaide Crows and the GWS Giants at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 08, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

The Pies lost their first game under Harvey in round 15 against Fremantle but face the struggling Saints on Sunday afternoon as they look to salvage something from a bleak 2021 season.