Former Geelong star and current GWS Football Director Jimmy Bartel has thrown his hat in the ring for the AFL’s Head of Football role following Brad Scott’s departure.
Scott was officially announcedas Essendon’s new coach earlier on Thursday and departs AFL House after just one year in his current job as the league’s football boss.
Bartel was immediately linked to the AFL job by Channel Seven, and the Brownlow Medallist was asked about his interest in the role on Sportsday.
“Yeah, I think I would be interested,” he replied.
“You know my passion for the game and administration, that’s why I do my work for the Giants, I've had some involvement with the Brisbane Lions and experience being on the board of the Players' Association, so I would listen to that (if the offer came).
“I wouldn’t be much younger than when Brad Scott went into it, but I think having the different experiences down at Geelong, two interstate clubs, northern clubs, has clearly opened my thinking and education on the game.
“Obviously my involvement with the Players' Association, the AFL Tribunal and a number of other little subcommittees… you’d always listen to that phone call, wouldn’t you?”
Bartel retired from the AFL in 2016 after 305 games, and worked with the Lions midway through 2018 before joining the GWS board later that year.
He oversaw the process that saw Adam Kingsley installed as the Giants’ new coach in August and is also heavily involved in the media.