Another big name has pulled out of the Essendon coaching race, with The Age’s Sam McClure revealing that former North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has also opted out of the Bombers' selection process.
Scott is currently employed by the AFL as its general manager of football, and McClure says like former Fremantle and St Kilda coach Ross Lyon, told Bombers football boss Josh Mahoney thanks, but no thanks, after he was pitched to.
“Josh Mahoney contacted him on Sunday night and Ross said today that he took 90 minutes to decide, and it was no,” McClure said on Sportsday.
“My understanding is Josh has had a similar situation with Brad Scott who has made his intentions clear that he wants to stay as head of football at the AFL.
“When David Barham came out on August 28 and said, ‘We think an experienced coach would get the best out of our list’, the first two names you thought of were Ross Lyon and Brad Scott, they’re both now out.”
With Scott and Lyon both out of the race, McClure says the list of candidates with AFL experience is “diminishing” as ex-GWS coach Leon Cameron looms as the most gettable target if the club goes down that path.
“The list of experienced coaches, well it’s diminishing,” McClure said.
“You’ve got Don Pyke who’s made it pretty clear that he wants to stay in New South Wales.
“Ken Hinkley has already said he’ll be coaching Port Adelaide next year, as has David Koch.
“Leon Cameron is the obvious one, I think (he) has kids finishing high school in Sydney so he’d probably prefer to stay there but he could be convinced.
“Is he a big enough name for Essendon to appoint? That’s another question entirely.
“You’re down to the likes of David Teague, who with all due respect given with what happened at Carlton, you wouldn’t think would be considered for the Essendon job.
“Then you’ve got the untried coaches like Adam Yze, Daniel Giansiracusa – who is the current (Essendon) defensive coach – are the names that keep popping up.
“It’s not a huge list that Essendon have to pick from.”
While they may not have their first choices to pick from, McClure says the Bombers will push forward in their search and hope to narrow a shortlist and hire their new coach before Grand Final day.
“They want to get five or six names by the end of the week that they can start interviewing,” McClure said.
“They want a coach before the Grand Final.”
This year’s AFL Grand Final is set for Saturday, September 24.