Fremantle Dockers defender Luke Ryan has backed his former coach Ross Lyon to replace outgoing Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley.

The long-serving coach announced he was stepping down from the top job at the Pies yesterday after almost a decade in charge.

Before the last camera flashed at Buckley’s press conference, the speculation had started as to who would step into the role at one of AFL football’s most prestigious clubs.

Ross Lyon quickly emerged as the frontrunner, with 305 games under his belt as a senior coach of both St Kilda and more recently Fremantle.

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And the Dockers reigning club champion Luke Ryan says he’ll “back him in” to take on any role that comes his way.

“I think he is still one of the best coaches out there that hasn’t got a job,” he told 6PR.

“It’s just whatever Collingwood want to do with their list and what Ross wants to do. If he doesn’t want to do it, he doesn’t want to do it.

“He’s happy with his life at the moment so whatever he does I’ll back him in and whatever Collingwood does, I’m guessing they’ll do the right decision as well because they’ve got a long time to think about it.”

Lyon appeared in a four-horse race with former Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss, Hawthorn assistant coach Sam Mitchell and his boss, senior coach Alistair Clarkson.

But this morning Clarkson dismissed any potential link to the vacant role at Collingwood, saying he has “every intention” of coaching Hawthorn next year.

“I’m contracted at the Hawks in 2022 and I have every intention of being here next year,” he told a press conference.

“This happens every year I daresay for the last 10 and I don’t say that in an arrogant fashion. Every time there’s some sort of movement in a coaching fashion my name is linked to it and I haven’t moved for 10 years and I daresay I won’t be moving this time either.

“My focus is purely on the Hawthorn Football Club, I’m still contracted, I want to see this out.”

Buckley will coach his final game for Collingwood in the Queen’s Birthday clash with Melbourne on Monday.

Robert Harvey will take over as caretaker coach for the remainder of the season.