 1.8

After retiring, Ayres turned to coaching; starting as an assistant coach to Malcolm Blight at Geelong.After Blight's resignation in 1994 (following Geelong's Grand Final defeat to the Eagles), Ayres was appointed senior coach for the 1995 AFL season.In his first year, the Cats lost to Carlton in the Grand Final (their fourth Grand Final defeat in seven seasons) by 61 points.