GARY Ayres has thrown his hat in the Gold Coast Suns’ coaching ring, saying he’d relish the opportunity to again coach an AFL club.

Ayres, a five-time premiership player with Hawthorn, coached Geelong from 1995-1999 and Adelaide from 2000-2004, before being appointed to coach VFL team Port Melbourne in 2008.

The dual Norm Smith Medal winner has never hid his desire to once again return to AFL ranks, despite enjoying great success at the Borough.

In 2011, Port Melbourne had the perfect season, winning every match including the premiership as a stand-alone VFL club.

Round 18

Six seasons later, the Borough are once again in the running for the flag, with a grand final against Richmond on the cards this Sunday.

LISTEN TO OUR PREVIEW FOR WEEK 3 OF FINALS IN THE FOX FOOTY PODCAST BELOW, OR TAP HERE TO SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES

Gary Ayres with Port players after winning its preliminary final. Photo: Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Ayres told SEN on Friday that he’d “love the challenge” of either coaching the Gold Coast Suns or mentoring a younger coach to fill the vacancy left by Rodney Eade.

“You never think you’re too old,” Ayres said.

“We coach against AFL alignments every week and we think we hold our own.

“It would certainly be a challenge, there’s no doubt about that.”

Port Melbourne, one of the few remaining stand-alone VFL clubs, was on its knees at the start of the season, with the club in $300,000 debt.

Facing possible eviction from the league, players went without pay in Round 1, while coaches also took pay cuts until new sponsorships were brokered.

Ayres said the dire situation had “galvanised” the entire playing group and had certainly helped the club to its first grand final since 2012.

Port Melbourne recruited sagely over the summer, employing the likes of former Saint Eli Templeton and former Tiger and Roo Robin Nahas to boost its list.

Ayres said recruiting former AFL players was just one way the club has managed to keep up with AFL-aligned VFL clubs.

“We just try and go out and get players from the AFL that are potentially wanting to live their dream again,” Ayres said.

“Then we’ve got some really good VFL players who, with alignments, aren’t given much of an opportunity. And there’s some good kids coming out of the TAC Cup.

“They are probably the three categories we try and research. The best recruiting people I’ve found at the VFL level are the players themselves because they’re pretty well connected.”

Port Melbourne takes on Richmond at Etihad Stadium on Sunday in the VFL grand final. To purchase tickets, click here.