West has been on the coaching staff at the Demons for the past three seasons and says even though he saw up close the drama surrounding the Dean Bailey sacking on Sunday, he would still like to lead a club at some stage.
"I'd love to be a senior coach and that sounds weird after the week I've been through with Dean," West told Leigh Matthews on Talking Footy on afl.com.au.
"I'd love to be a senior coach at some stage. It is something I really am striving for and I am trying to learn as much as I can as quick as I can to get in that position."
West and his fellow assistant coaches met with Bailey on Sunday evening after news emerged that he had been sacked.
It was not the first time West had seen a coach sacking. His fourth year as a player with Footscray was punctuated by Alan Joyce's sacking but he said the ramifications were felt more intensely as an assistant coach than as a player.
"I don't think as a player you really understand the impact it does have on the whole football club," he said.
"As a player you are pretty secure to a degree but the implication to everyone at the footy club now means everyone is a little bit on edge."
West said he spoke to the Melbourne midfield group in the wake of Bailey's departure and emphasised that dwelling on the situation was not going to change a thing.
"There is a time early in the week when it's just confusion, you don't know what's happening or why it's happened," he said.
"I spoke to the players and said as hard as it is and as emotional it can be, there's nothing you can do other than get out there and play good football."
West said he was unsure what role Garry Lyon would take in his new temporary job as Melbourne football director but was sure it would be beneficial for the Demons.
"I think he's trying to get a feel for what's actually happening. There needs to be some questions asked of why it's gone down this path with Dean and how the loss came about," he said.
"I'm not really 100 per cent sure what Garry's going to do. Whatever he is going to do will be useful for the Melbourne football club to push forward."
