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Rodney Eade says the fire still burns to be a senior AFL coach. But he’s unsure whether he wants the vacant job at Melbourne.
Eade, who took Sydney to the 1996 grand final and the Western Bulldogs to successive preliminary finals in 2008-10 – as part of seven-year stints at each club – is expected to be one of the leading candidates.
But the 55-year-old said he was enjoying his job as Collingwood’s football and coaching strategist and wouldn’t necessarily leap straight into the Demons job even if they wanted him.
“If they did happen to want to have a chat, well we’d see what happened then,” Eade told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Monday night.
“But if they didn’t, that’s no drama. I’m certainly happy where I am at the moment.”
Eade acknowledged the desire to return to senior coaching hadn’t waned.
“I’ve still got that fire in the gut,” he said.
But he noted he had felt the same way last year when the Port Adelaide coaching position opened up and eventually decided against taking that job.
“I said I had the fire in the belly but, for a few reasons, that didn’t work out,” he said.
“Probably in my case, I didn’t want to take the job and didn’t want to go any further with it as far as talking about it.”
Eade said he wouldn’t be approaching the Demons, but it was up to them whether they approached him.
“That’s out of my hands. I’m not going to talk to anyone as far as putting my hand up. I’m totally focused at Collingwood,” he said.
“I’m really enjoying my role.”
Essendon senior assistant Mark Thompson, who guided Geelong to two premierships, ruled himself out.
“No. I just don’t want to do it,” Thompson said.
Former Sydney coach Paul Roos again said he is not interested in coaching.
“I’m the opposite to Rocket (Eade)- Rocket said he has a burning desire to coach,” he told Fox Sport’s On The Couch program.
“I don’t.”
Roos added the Demons must hire an experienced coach, adding Eade and Mark Williams would be outstanding candidates.
“It has to be someone you can sell to the members immediately,” Roos said.
“This is the hard thing for Melbourne supporters – they may not win next year.
“That’s a long rebuilding process (and) a young coach is going to find that very, very difficult.”
The main candidates to take over from Mark Neeld as coach of AFL club Melbourne.
THE OBVIOUS
MARK WILLIAMS
The initial favourite. Coached Port Adelaide to their only premiership in 2004 and now an assistant at Richmond after a stint working under Kevin Sheedy at GWS. Proven operator, but had a messy end at the Power.
RODNEY EADE
Narrowly missed out on a premiership in lengthy stints as senior coach at Sydney and the Western Bulldogs. Now working alongside Nathan Buckley at Collingwood. Street-smart and works well with young players.
PAUL ROOS
Has repeatedly said he is not interested in returning to senior coaching, but he wouldn’t be the first to change his mind. Coached Sydney to the 2005 flag and has a massive reputation in the game.
JOHN WORSFOLD
Speculation continues to rise that the 2006 premiership coach will leave the Eagles at the end of this season. If he does go, could Melbourne entice him across from Perth? Adding to his credibility, reinvented West Coast after they finished last in 2010.
THE LEFT-FIELD
* Dean Laidley, Mark Thompson, Mark Harvey, Matthew Knights, Gary Ayres, Brett Ratten – all experienced senior coaches.
* Alan Richardson, Scott Burns – it’s highly unlikely Melbourne will go with an untried coach, but Richardson and Burns are highly-regarded in the industry.
* Neil Craig – will most likely only coach the Demons until the end of the season.
* Kevin Sheedy – surely the old lion will never coach an AFL side again after this season. But who knows what might happen if the mood suddenly takes him.
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