Stick with me here. I am not suggesting that it's going to happen, although the more I think about it the more convinced I am that the idea has some merit.
Clearly Eade and Lyon are two of the most highly regarded and best-credentialed coaches in the AFL. In the past three seasons Eade has taken the Bulldogs to consecutive Preliminary Finals with an average losing margin of just 20 points, while Lyon has taken the Saints to a Preliminary Final and consecutive Grand Finals, having won 71 per cent of matches in that period.
It has been a disastrous start to 2011 for both coaches, with only three wins between them from the first six matches. For the Saints to make the eight they need to win 11 of the next 15 games with a tough draw, while the Bulldogs look far from certain to compete in September's action.
Perhaps it's time for both clubs to make a brave call?
A coaching swap might seem like a fanciful idea but it has happened before. Robert Walls and David Parkin swapped roles prior to the 1986 season. In 1985, Walls had taken Fitzroy to ninth and Parkin's Carlton had finished fifth, losing the Elimination Final by 19 points.
The following year Carlton was runners-up, while Fitzroy made the Preliminary Final for the first time since 1960. In 1987 Carlton won the premiership under Walls.
Walls, incidentally, was involved in another swap, trading places with John Northey. Under Walls Richmond finished ninth, while Northey's Brisbane Bears reached a Preliminary Final.
Chris Scott's appointment as a total outsider to the senior coaching role at Geelong appears to be an inspired choice. The energy and enthusiasm of the Cats' playing group looks totally re-invigorated, and Mark Thompson's decision to leave after 10 years and two premierships may well be a blessing in disguise.
Collingwood's succession plan for Nathan Buckley to take over from Mick Malthouse at the end of this year has created an unprecedented amount of debate.
Some commentators have called for Buckley to do the 'honourable' thing and allow Mick to coach on if the Pies win back-to-back premierships. I would argue that it is the perfect time to inject the intensity and commitment of Buckley into the job.
Malthouse has already revealed that his biggest challenge this year is battling complacency in the playing group, having won the flag in 2010. A new coach automatically provides a boost, as every player feels compelled to prove himself all over again.
The Essendon list that finished 14th last year is almost identical to the group that James Hird now has looking like a genuine top-four contender.
Paul Roos handing the reigns over to John Longmire also seems to have had the desired effect of re-energising the playing group.
It was a unique decision that Adelaide made when it chose to place Neil Craig on the payroll as a staff member rather than on contract as a coach. It's not hard to see Craig selflessly accept a mentoring role to allow Mark Ricciuto or Simon Goodwin to take over as senior coach.
The only constant in life is change, or, as the Greek philosopher Heraclitus expressed it around 500 BC, "Change is central to the universe." I'm not suggesting that Ross Lyon and Rodney Eade changing jobs will change the universe - but it might shake things up a bit.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
