BRISBANE Lions senior candidate Brett Montgomery has implored the coaching industry to show more maturity when parting with assistants after missing out on the opportunity to play a role in Saturday's Grand Final.
Montgomery, who was interviewed by the Lions on Tuesday, was an assistant at Whitten Oval for six seasons before mutually parting with the club last month to seek other opportunities.
After initially agreeing to keep the senior aspirant on until the end of the season, the Bulldogs had a change of heart and severed ties with the 43-year-old on August 10.
Fremantle took the same approach with Peter Sumich after it became clear the experienced assistant would not seek a contract extension with the Dockers.
"What our industry needs to consider is that when it does become mutual or when it does become quite formal that someone won't be there the next year, that we can work our way through any insecurities or paranoia about that person going on to their next venture," Montgomery told RSN on Thursday.
"I think there's always some confusion around where you'll be spending your time, where your priorities might lie, what you're concentrating on, and where your energies are going.
"I'd love to see our industry get a little bit stronger and little bit more mature in that."
Montgomery and Sumich both had well-known senior coaching aspirations at their clubs and are part of the AFL Level Four accreditation course, which aims to prepare the next wave of senior candidates.
Under an industry guideline promoted by the AFL Coaches Association, all assistants should be told by August 1 of their contract status for the following season.
Montgomery said it became clear around that time he would not be with the Bulldogs.
The 43-year-old said he needed to seek new opportunities to further his coaching career after narrowly missing out on the Bulldogs senior position eventually won by Beveridge.
"I signed on for another two years, just to make sure that transition was really smooth and there was continuity for the players," he said.
Former Tiger set to seek a coaching spot
"I thought after two years that was probably enough time and I was clearly never going to coach the Bulldogs.
"Luke's got a really strong skillset in coaching and he doesn't necessarily look for a lot of help from his coaches.
"For me to take the next step, which I want to dedicate this next little period to, I probably needed to make a move."
Montgomery is expected to be replaced at Whitten Oval by former Collingwood assistant Steve Grace, who was also in the mix to join Melbourne in a development role.
A Port Adelaide premiership player, Montgomery has also been spoken to by Richmond, which is looking to appoint multiple assistant coaches.
He confirmed his interest in the Lions' senior position after meeting with the club last week and being formally interviewed on Tuesday.
"Yeah I'm in it, but so are a number of others," he said.
"They've got a lot of things to get through before they make their decision.
"It's a huge decision for their footy club and their next leader will take on a (young) group of players … I think they've got 37 players under 25 years old, and they'll get younger.
"It's a big job and it'll be a really considered decision I'm sure."
