While names like Alastair Clarkson have almost become synonymous with the North Melbourne coaching search, a three-time premiership Lion has suggested a left field name to take the top job.
Now-former coach David Noble departed North earlier in the week as the club stares down a 15th consecutive loss and are on the hunt to replace the 55-year-old. While assistant coach Brent Harvey suggested the club should pursue an "experienced" name, former Lion Chris Johnson has touted Garry Lyon as a possible replacement.
North Melbourne have had three coaches in just four seasons, with Rhyce Shaw lasting just twelve months in the top job after replacing Brad Scott, with Shaw replaced himself by Noble.
Johnson, speaking to 7NEWS.com.au, suggested the former Demons skipper would be a good fit for the role, despite having no prior coaching experience at AFL level.
“Garry Lyon is one I’d throw up,” Johnson said.
“He’s been around for a long, long time and analyses the game so well. He’s respected within the football community around his football analogies and everything else.
“You’ve got a lot of people in the media at the moment that have got really good football brains who could have an influence on a football club.
“They might been away from the game for a little bit, but the senior coach is completely different now to what it was back in the day, I think they’re more of a facilitator more than anything else. They’re not so much there to coach - they’re a coach on game day, but throughout the week they’re almost like a business manager.
“They’re checking on people’s emotions, checking on how their people are doing away from the football club, and at the football club. It’s a different role.”
Following his retirement after 226 games with the Demons, Lyon did coach the Australian international rules football team, winning two games from four matches. In his post-playing career, Lyon is most recognisable for his work in the media, appearing on both SEN and Fox Footy.
Despite those media commitments, Johnson believes he is the "perfect" person for the job.
“Obviously, he’s got a lot of media commitments and he’s probably happy with what he’s doing there,” Johnson said.
“But I’ve been under Garry as a coach and he was a fantastic coach in the Australian team when he coached there, so he’s a perfect person to go and coach North Melbourne.”
