Former GWS coach Leon Cameron has revealed he is weighing up the idea of throwing his name into the ring for the vacant Essendon senior coaching position, however has conceded he may not have "the energy" to go through a "thorough" process.
Cameron is currently among several names linked to the Bombers vacancy, with the likes of former Fremantle and St Kilda coach Ross Lyon, Melbourne assistant Adem Yze, and Essendon great James Hird also believed to be a chance.
The 49-year-old left his post with the Giants in May after a nine-year stint with the New South Wales club, a spell that garnered a grand final finish in 2019.
But a poor start to the 2022 season saw GWS and Cameron go their separate ways, with the latter now taking on a role to aid a review into reviewing South Australia's junior development programs.
Cameron hasn't put a line through a return to coaching for 2023 however, with Essendon the last remaining vacancy for a top job in the AFL.
The former Bulldog and Tiger would be required to be part of a lengthy process as the Bombers search for their successor to Ben Rutten, with Cameron still mulling whether he opts into the race.
Speaking onย SEN,ย Cameron expressed that a potential six-week long process can be a significant hurdle in deciding to lodge a candidacy.
โI think before any applicant like myself, whether itโs Adem Yze or Ross Lyon or whoever it might be, the big question is: โAre you willing to go through that process?โ" Cameron said.
โThe process is full on. Itโs a month to six weeks, sometimes eight weeks, of full-on presentations, psychological testing.
"Thereโs probably three or four presentations you need to deliver, then youโve got to meet the board if you keep on going or youโre down to the last two... Itโs a thorough process.
โI havenโt really given (applying) much thought yet. I havenโt had that phone call, clearly theyโve just named their coaching panel yesterday.
โNo doubt next week, there will be some things to discuss from me whether or not Iโve got the energy to go through that, do I think itโs the right fit to go through that.
โIf you do decide to go down that path, itโs got to be full on. You canโt go 95 per cent. Youโve got to go all in and be prepared to sit down and go through the process.โ
Essendon have confirmed an external review will take place this off-season as they look to refine their football department.
The club have flagged a desire to appoint an experienced coach, however football boss Josh Mahoney has revealed that won't limit their search to only names that have sat in the hot seat before.
โExperienced, you can look at it a number of different ways. Experience doesnโt necessarily mean they have to have coached senior AFL football before,โ Mahoney told ABC Sport radio.
โWe certainly donโt want to limit it to people who have coached AFL football.
โPeople are frustrated with Essendon Football Clubโs lack of success for a period of time now. Everyone wants the same thing โฆ we have to make sure weโre on the same page about how weโre going to create success.
โIt looks a bit messy right now, but if you look forward to four to six weeks time, when weโve got a new coach in place and a new football program with some additional resources around and weโre looking stronger in that area, the board are united, itโs going to be a great version of the Essendon Football Club.
โWeโve got a very important period coming up and weโve got to get this right.โ
While Cameron, Lyon and Hird have led clubs in the past, Mahoney's comments have only strengthened Yze's chances of getting the nod at Tullamarine.
Essendon named a six-person coaching subcommittee earlier this week, with former Carlton coach Robert Walls, Hawthorn champion Jordan Lewis and Mahoney among those to lead the coaching search.
