With Brad Scott sidelined for several weeks, Darren Crocker will take the role of interim coach for the second time in his career.

However, Crocker’s role over the next month presents a different situation compared to his first stint in 2009. On that occasion, the former premiership player took the reins after Dean Laidley had stepped down at senior coach, with the search commencing for the next person to fill the role on a permanent basis.

Speaking on the AFL Exchange podcast last week, Drew Petrie was highly complimentary of Crocker’s first stint as interim coach in 2009.

"He brought in some really good standards and I know he wanted to create this high-performance culture. That’s probably the first time I heard that, that high-performance culture in 2009, when ‘Crock’ took over," Petrie said.

Since 2000, there have only been a handful of coaches to step into a similar role – Chris Connolly, John Blakey, Gary O’Donnell, Alan Richardson, Simon Goodwin and perhaps most notably, Brendon Bolton. He deputised for Alastair Clarkson throughout the middle stages of last season, presiding over a five-game winning streak.

While a coach stepping into the breach due to injury or illness is rare, an even more unique situation is taking on a team for multiple matches.

In the last 15 years, it has only been Bolton to coach more than one match. The remaining four were stood in for one week only.

List of interim coaches (due to injury/illness) since 2000

Chris Connolly – 2001 – one win, zero losses – Hawthorn

In 2001, Peter Schwab was the senior coach at the Hawks. However due to a heart complaint he was unable to coach his side in Round 17, handing the controls to Connolly.

Hawthorn faced Carlton at the MCG that weekend and looked out of the match at three quarter time, trailing by 20 points. It then proceeded to stage a stunning comeback, capped by Ben Dixon’s goal after the siren for a three point victory.

The Hawks proceeded into the preliminary final in 2001, eventually falling to Essendon by nine points.

John Blakey – 2005 – zero wins, one loss – Brisbane

The former Kangaroo has had a long coaching career since his playing retirement at the end of 2002. His first assistant role was at Brisbane, where he was the stand-in coach for one game in 2005.

Leigh Matthews was unavailable due to the passing of his mother on the day of the Lions' Round 18 clash against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium. Under Blakey’s tutelage, it appeared  Brisbane was heading for a crushing loss against a home side inspired by Brad Johnson’s 250th game.

Yet they raised hopes of a miraculous victory when they rallied from a 47-point deficit to hit the front briefly in the final term. Unfortunately for Brisbane, it wasn’t enough in the end.

Gary O'Donnell – 2006 – zero wins, one loss – Essendon

Kevin Sheedy was forced to undertake ‘major shoulder surgery’ before Essendon’s Round 16 match against Carlton in 2006.

For the first time in more than a quarter of a century, someone other than Sheedy was the senior coach for the Bombers.

A back and forth match went down to the final stages, with a draw the final result.

Alan Richardson – 2013 – zero wins, one loss – Port Adelaide

North Melbourne was directly involved in Richardson’s sole game as Power coach before his move to the Saints.

Ken Hinkley had won his first five games as Port Adelaide coach, but a virus had left him unable to fly with his team to Hobart, where the Kangaroos were waiting at Blundstone Arena.

North jumped the Power with a seven-goal first quarter, and despite some nervous moments in the closing minutes, held on for a 10-point victory.

Brendon Bolton – 2014 – five wins, zero losses – Hawthorn

What began as back pain for Alastair Clarkson was diagnosed as Guillain-Barré syndrome after checking himself into hospital, and he missed five consecutive matches as a result.

Bolton proved a success as the Hawks won all five matches in Clarkson’s absence and eventually proceeded to win the 2014 premiership.