PAUL Roos says clubs need to be protected from rival teams poaching their assistant coaches during the season.

In the wake of Carlton coach Mick Malthouse’s sacking – and with the Blues in the hunt for a new senior coach – Roos said it was important that clubs did not have key coaching panel lost to rivals during the season.

It is an issue that has been addressed by the AFL coaches association – a rule could be introduced in 2016 – and Roos supported the idea. 

“I spoke to [AFLCA boss] Mark [Brayshaw] about it. He was ringing around last week – to discuss a number of things with coaches and we’re starting to get into some really dangerous territory now,” he said.

“I don’t know what the earliest a coach has been sacked, but for Mick [Malthouse] to go so early in the season, I think there needs to be a protective mechanism for other footy clubs.

“It is early to be starting interviews on coaches for next year. I briefly read today (Thursday) that Mark’s had some discussions with [Carlton football operations boss] Andrew [McKay] and some of the Carlton people and I think most people are similar, until you’re put in that situation.”

Roos said he backed the notion that assistant coaches could not be interviewed for a senior position by an opposition club until that coach’s season had finished.

“I think there needs to be some clear rules that the AFL sets, along with the AFL Coaches Association … what happens if a coach gets sacked after two rounds?” he said.

“More and more the coach in his last year is under so much pressure, so it’s not going to stretch out and you can’t see it stretching out until round 23.

“It’s (the rule) more likely to come in, so I applaud Mark and the CA and the AFL. I’m sure clubs would be pretty consistent on their themes and that seems to be the case when talking to Mark.”