Former GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron has revealed AFL clubs have shown some interest in his services, but concedes a return to coaching may not be on the cards just yet.
Cameron and the Giants confirmed a mutual split last month, ending a nine-year tenure as senior coach of the New South Welsh club.
Assistant Mark McVeigh has stepped into the leading role on an interim basis since Cameron's departure, with the former Bomber to hold the reins until the end of the season as the club begins their hunt for the third coach in their short history.
For Cameron, the 49-year-old is weighing up whether to step back into the AFL landscape in the near future or potentially remain detached from the league for at least another year.
The ex-Bulldog and Tiger will use the coming weeks to "see where my head is at", confirming toย SENย that there has been some interest.
โCraig Kelly (Cameron's manager), whoโs been looking after me for my whole footy career basically, heโs had a few phone calls," Cameron said when asked about any approaches from AFL clubs.
โBut I said, โLook, in fairness to the footy clubs, letโs get to the end of June, maybe start of July, and then see where my head is atโ.
โAm I enjoying time out of the game? Do I want a full year and not just a half a year? And then crack in and make a decision in early July? I reckon.โ
Coaching remains on the cards for Cameron, however he hasn't ruled out other options in the next chapter of his career, potentially looking into football management roles or even taking a lengthy rest from football altogether.
While Cameron has taken on the advice from those around him to have patience with the next decision of his career, the former coach can't help but feel "itchy" in wanting to make a call sooner rather than later.
โRealistically, thereโs one of three things that youโll end up doing,โ he said.
โThat is jumping straight back into clubland for 2023 as an assistant coach, a footy manager or a senior coach.
โOr 2024, have a bit of time off for a year and a half and work through some areas that you really want to work on in terms of some study or some areas that you think you can improve as a person to then jump back into AFL footy.
โOr just have a rest completely. Iโve been going hard for 34 years and Iโm going to use the next two or three weeks to work out whatโs the next step.
โItโs sort of unknown, thereโs no script. A lot of good people have said take your time.
โBut as I explained to you earlier, you get a bit itchy and sometimes you want to make your decision, so you have a direction and structure.โ
Cameron led the Giants through 192 matches since stepping into the senior coaching role for the 2014 season, winning 101 games at a rate of 53.85%.
