Ross Lyon has declined to be part of the process to be the next coach of Essendon.
Club sources have confirmed to The Age that Bombers football boss Josh Mahoney approached Lyon recently, but the former St Kilda and Fremantle coach told the Dons he was content working in real estate and the football media.
Lyon – who coached 163 games between 2007 and 2019, including 20 finals and appears on Nine’s Footy Classified and Triple M – was seen as a key contender for the Essendon job, following the departure of Ben Rutten.
Reports emerged last week that senior Essendon players had told senior people at the club that they wanted Lyon to be their next coach because they believed he would bring strength and stability.
Sam McClure is a sport reporter for The Age and winner of ‘best news reporter’ at the AFL Media Association awards.Connect via Twitter or email.