Adam Simpson won't be pursuing the North Melbourne coaching vacancy.
Simpson has been linked to the role since the Kangaroos sacked Alastair Clarkson earlier this month.
"I'm not going to take it any further," Simpson said on SEN.
"I had a good chat with Todd (Viney) and Jen (Watt) the other day, which was reported, and just upon reflection, it's probably not going to work for me this time around.
"I let them know yesterday, and we'll let them continue on with their journey, whether they get an old or new coach; that's totally up to North Melbourne.
"I never crossed the line (to apply), because once you cross the line, there's no going back; once you're in, you're all in.
"There is my history with the club, knowing some people there, and having that thought, 'Jee, that would be cool'... but after starting that process I realised that in the end, it probably didn't suit me as well as I thought it did, and then the decision was made that I didn't have to go all-in.
"That was the hesitancy of it all."
Simpson flagged his uncomfortability of going through the process after being on the Carlton selection committee, helping dissect a long list of candidates before determining Josh Fraser as the next Blues coach.
"There is an undercurrent across the competition at the moment that new is the new fashion, which is absolutely fine," he said.
"The other piece is that I've worked with- I was on the Carlton coaching panel a month ago, and I critiqued these young coaches that potentially go against, and I'm not that comfortable going through exactly the same process with guys I'm sitting with, going 'Look, let's look at your presentation, and I think you could've done this a little bit better. Maybe do this next time, more detail there on your leadership program and how you measure development'. Really try help these young coaches and then to go against them, four weeks later, it felt awkward.
"I think if you're dog-hungry for a job, then you go, 'I don't care. I'll walk over anyone'.
He played 306 games for North Melbourne between 1995 and 2009. He won two premierships, an All-Australian blazer, a Syd Barker Medal and captained the club for five seasons.
Simpson joined the coaching caper immediately, working closely with Hawthorn and Alastair Clarkson before assuming the Eagles' top job in 2014.
He claimed a third premiership - first as coach - in 2018.
Simpson has been in the media since he departed West Coast midway through 2024.
