Gold Coast assistant coach Shane O'Bree says the winless club could do with all the help it can get as Malcolm Blight began his tenure as a part-time director of coaching on Thursday.
The former North Melbourne, Geelong, Adelaide and St Kilda mentor watched on from a distance on his first day on the job, casting his eye over the Suns' session at Carrara with football manager Marcus Ashcroft.
Dubbed the 'Messiah' for steering the Crows to back-to-back flags in 1997-98, the Suns hierarchy will need Blight to live up to that nickname to turn around the expansion side's disastrous second season.
His appointment has been welcomed at the club, despite claims the move shows a lack of confidence in head coach Guy McKenna, who recently penned a fresh two-year deal.
O'Bree, who played under Mick Malthouse and his numerous assistants at Collingwood, said Blight's return to coaching will be embraced because of the lack of numbers in the football department.
"That's why Malcolm's come on board, because he's got spare time and he knows a lot about football," he said.
But he stopped short of describing Gold Coast as 'under-resourced'.
"I can only (compare with) my previous club, Collingwood, the wealthiest club in Australia," he said.
"They had a lot of resources because they are wealthy - we're starting from scratch.
"We're working bloody hard. I reckon we're learning a lot on the job.
"All I know is that with the staff we've got here, we're working our butts off to do everything we can.
"We can compare it to other clubs and they've probably got more staff than us, but whether we're under-resourced or not, I don't know."
'Director of football' positions have come into vogue over the past 12 months, following Malthouse's original agreement with Nathan Buckley to move upstairs at the Magpies.
Rodney Eade now fills that role following Malthouse's decision to renege on that deal, while Mark Thompson backs up James Hird at Essendon.
O'Bree said he wasn't exactly sure what to expect from Blight, but pointed out the dual premiership coach is only a part-time addition to the panel.
"It's just a job for Blighty over the next nine weeks. It's a part-time role. He'll have plenty of ideas, what's worked and what hasn't worked for him, so I'm sure he'll throw it up at the right time," he said.
"I'm sure he'll be a good sounding board, just with his experience and what he's had to face over the years as a coach.
"It wasn't a great shock or anything (to see him appointed) because when he's around, he does give us advice."
Blight will face his former club, Geelong, in his return to the coaching box on Sunday at Metricon Stadium.
The Suns will be able to call upon the services of Michael Rischitelli, who has overcome a hamstring injury.
"Rischa's one of our leaders," O'Bree said.
"He might not be getting much of the ball as he likes but his voice out on the ground and his all-round enthusiasm in getting the boys up, it'll be great to have him back this week."