Melbourne assistant Adem Yze has confirmed the Bombers have approached him amid their pursuit for a new senior coach, while former North Melbourne senior coach Brad Scott is seen as a "serious contender" for the vacancy.
Yze was among the final few candidates for the GWS senior coaching position, which was eventually handed to Richmond assistant Adam Kinglsey last month.
The Bombers have begun their coaching search to replace Ben Rutten, with Ross Lyon pulling his name out of contention this week.
Potential contender Leon Cameron, who was replaced by Kinglsey at the Giants, is also understood to be out of the race.
AFL Nation's Gerard Whateley has reported that Cameron will instead remain in New South Wales.
โEssendonโs coaching process, Leon Cameron is not going to participate in that,โ Whateley said on Wednesday night.
โTom Harley (Sydney CEO) told us last week that the Swans were going to meet with him, but I suspect weโll learn in the next 48 hours what that looks like with Leon Cameron and the Swans.
โBut heโs not going to participate in the Essendon process. It was erroneously reported yesterday that he was interested, thatโs not the case.โ
With both Cameron and Lyon seemingly out of the race, the position at Tullamarine is now on offer to a select few, including Yze, club great James Hird, and the aforementioned Scott.
Yze revealed toย 7 Newsย ahead of his side's semi-final that the Bombers have approached him, with further talks to take place in the coming weeks.
"Yeah I have (been approached)," Yze said.
"That will start next week. I'll have an informal chat with them next week and see where that lands.
"Josh Mahoney (Essendon football boss) obviously he was a line coach (at Melbourne).
"I'm really confident with the way their footy club is set up."
Chief Football Reporter @TomBrowne7 with exclusive details on the AFLโs tribute to the Queen and how it will impact the Brownlow Medal. https://t.co/5zYfOfGqUb @7AFL #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/6roWPxKlqD
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) September 9, 2022
Scott is understood to still be considering the vacancy at Essendon, who are gauging the 46-year-old's interest in the position.
7 News'ย Tom Browne has revealed Scott is a "serious contender" for the position, despite conflicting reports from earlier this week.
"A serious contender has emerged for the vacant Bombers position," Browne tweeted on Friday.
"Influential AFL Football Boss Brad Scott is weighing up whether heโll go for it.
"An impressive wining record with a highly salary constrained North. Believe Essendon is strongly gauging his interest."
A serious contender has emerged for the vacant Bombers position.
Influential AFL Football Boss Brad Scott is weighing up whether heโll go for it.
An impressive wining record with a highly salary constrained North.
Believe Essendon is strongly gauging his interest
— Tom Browne (@TomBrowne7) September 9, 2022
Scott is currently positioned as the AFL's general manager of football, and managed a 106-105 record at North Melbourne between 2010-2019.
