Stepping aside: Frontrunner for Demons job bows out

Highly rated Collingwood assistant coach Hayden Skipworth has withdrawn himself from the vacant role at the Melbourne Football Club.

Skipworth, who has worked as a coach at the senior level with the Magpies since 2020, was one of six candidates in the running for the role of senior head coach, alongside the likes of Brendon Lade and Nathan Buckley.

Last season, Skipworth was in the running for the vacant West Coast Eagles coaching role, finishing second to the current coach and former Richmond and Melbourne assistant Andrew McQualter.

As reported by 7News reporter Mitch Cleary, Skipworth opted out of an interview with the Demons ahead of time, and will remain within his role as an assistant to Craig McRae at Collingwood.

Despite removing himself from candidacy, Skipworth remains firmly in the frame for a senior coaching role in due time.

Alongside Lade and Buckley, Steven King, James Kelly and Daniel Giansiracusa remain in the running to take on the Demons' top job.