Mick Malthouse says losing an assistant coach to a rival club during a finals campaign is a minor issue and everyone should just move on.
Malthouse was coaching Collingwood in 2011 when his assistant Mark Neeld departed before the preliminary final to become coach of Melbourne. The Demons had missed the finals and were keen to get a head-start on preparations for 2012.
Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert says the AFL should prevent key club staff from making detailed presentations to rival teams during a finals campaign.
Malthouse, 58, is working as a TV commentator this year and his assistant Nathan Buckley has taken over at Collingwood.
Malthouse says any man can be replaced within a football club and assistants shouldn't be stopped from winning senior roles at rival clubs.
"If you've got the ship running right, it's a minor blip," the triple-premiership coach said on Thursday.
"You don't want to restrict anyone from taking over a senior job.
"I just think it's something that happens. It won't happen that often and clubs have been able to cope with it.
"I don't see it being a negative."
Malthouse said it was only natural that rival clubs would seek to hire staff from more successful teams.
"If you do your job properly, you've got people within the organisation to step in," Malthouse added.
"No single man on this earth is irreplaceable.
"I've always believed in that philosophy, from the senior coach to the CEO to the head trainer to the physio.
"You get over it. If you're that dependent on one person you've got real trouble."
The Magpies overcame Hawthorn by three points in a heart-stopping preliminary final but the 2010 premiers were overpowered by Geelong by 38 points in last year's grand final.
Geelong also lost an assistant coach during September 2011, with Brenton Sanderson being appointed Adelaide mentor and watching the grand final from the stands.
Pert is drafting a discussion paper for the AFL and has received public support from Geelong chief executive Brian Cook.
