PLAYING coaches are a product of a bygone era but Dean Cox is trying to bring it back into vogue.
Cox is West Coast's ruck coach in 2014 and on the eve of breaking the club games record he has revealed he’d like to coach full-time once his career is over.
"I've really started to enjoy the role of trying to educate and teach players, and let them have the opportunity to have some of the great football memories that I've had," Cox said.
"To work with the ruck guys and even a lot of younger players when they first come to the club - to try to fast-track and get their development as quickly as possible so they can have an impact - is really rewarding.
"The ruck stuff is certainly happening at the minute. But when I do finish I will stay straight in the AFL system and hopefully sink my teeth right into it."
Cox also did not rule out the ambition of becoming a senior coach.
"I'm not sure. There's not too many positions that are available to be a senior coach," Cox said.
"There's still so much to learn. Whether it's development coach or assisting, I want to be a coach for a sustained period of time, so I'll take my time and learn as much as I can to get there."
Cox's 2006 premiership teammate and current Eagles development coach Adam Selwood is adamant that Cox's coaching value is enhanced by the fact he is still playing.
"Callum Sinclair and even Nic Naitanui, being able to play with Coxy, they can talk about the game together instead of just going through vision, [which] is fantastic for them,” Selwood said.
"He's been sitting in on the meetings I've been having with Scott Lycett and adding valuable knowledge to his ruck taps and what he can do with his follow ups and his leading patterns around the ground.
"I rely on him very heavily and the way he communicates with the boys is fantastic."
Cox is not contracted to play on in 2015 but he has not ruled out trying to become the first Eagle to play 300 AFL games.
