Former GWS coach Leon Cameron admits he doesn’t know if he has “the energy” to put his name forward to replace Ben Rutten at Essendon.
Cameron’s name is one of many in the mix to be next Bombers coach, after Rutten was sacked this month.
The likes of former Essendon coach James Hird, ex-Dockers and Saints coach Ross Lyon and Port premiership coach Mark Williams are all reported as in the running after Bombers president David Barham’s said the club was after someone “experienced”.
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But speaking on SEN, Cameron said there was a lot to weigh up before even starting the process to apply.
“That’s the really interesting question for myself (would he apply),” he said.
“I think before any applicant like myself, whether it’s (Melbourne assistant) Adem Yze or Ross Lyon or whoever it might be, the big question is: ‘Are you willing to go through that process?’
“The process is full on. It’s a month to six weeks, sometimes eight weeks, of full-on presentations, psychological testing. There’s probably three or four presentations you need to deliver, then you’ve got to meet the board if you keep on going or you’re down to the last two.
“It’s a thorough process.
“I haven’t really given (applying) much thought yet. I haven’t had that phone call (from Essendon) – clearly they’ve just named their coaching panel yesterday.
“No doubt next week, there will be some things to discuss from me whether or not I’ve got the energy to go through that, do I think it’s the right fit to go through that.
“If you do decide to go down that path, it’s got to be full on. You can’t go 95 per cent. You’ve got to go all in and be prepared to sit down and go through the process.”
Cameron stepped down as Giants coach back in May after almost nine years in charge.
Lyon reportedly remains one of the big contenders for the vacant Bombers role, with the man who helped him land at St Kilda, Robert Walls, joining the six-member coaching panel to determine Rutten’s replacement.
But the man in charge of that panel, Bombers GM of football Josh Mahoney, has moved to clarify what exactly Essendon are searching for.
“Experienced, you can look at it a number of different ways. Experience doesn’t necessarily mean they have to have coached senior AFL football before,” he said on ABC Sport radio.
“We certainly don’t want to limit it to people who have coached AFL football.
“People are frustrated with Essendon Football Club’s lack of success for a period of time now. Everyone wants the same thing … we have to make sure we’re on the same page about how we’re going to create success.
“It looks a bit messy right now, but if you look forward to four to six weeks time, when we’ve got a new coach in place and a new football program with some additional resources around and we’re looking stronger in that area, the board are united, it’s going to be a great version of the Essendon Football Club.
“We’ve got a very important period coming up and we’ve got to get this right.”
Footy commentator Cameron Ling and former Bomber Adam Ramanauskas said whoever replaces Rutten needs to have the support of the Bombers board.
“Whoever the new coach is, super experienced or a brand new senior coach, there has to be an element of patience,” Ling said on ABC Sport radio.
“The new coach is going to come in and I can almost guarantee you that new coach is going to say: ‘We’re going to need another two or three years here’. How are you going to be patient again?” Ramanauskas added.
