Ross Lyon has spoken out on reports linking him to a possible coaching comeback to fill the vacant role at North Melbourne, failing to give a definitive answer on the likelihood of seeing him at Arden Street next season.
The 55-year-old coached both St Kilda and Fremantle to grand final appearances during his time at the helm at the respective clubs, but is yet to claim the title of premiership coach.
With recent the departure of David Noble from the top job at the Kangaroos, North have been linked to many prominent names in the game, including Lyon and four-time Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson.
Speaking on Triple M's The Sunday Rub, Lyon admitted he was humbled by the speculation, but wouldn't definitively confirm his interest in the job, despite admitting that North did show promise in their win over Richmond.
โItโs gratifying that you get mentioned in dispatches. We have all got an ego and it is nice recognition of years of hard work I suppose,โ Lyon said.
โThey need to canvas wide-ranging (options) and speak to the Mark Williams and they are doing that and speaking to Eddie (McGuire) and all of that.
โIโm a bit uncomfortable in my role as a media commentator, Iโm not in a position to give you anything definitive. But as I said, as always, this industry is about respect.
"If Adem Yze gets the opportunity he should take that job. We saw it yesterday, there are some green shoots there, but as David Noble said and I think there is a bit of pain, who knows?
โThatโs what I loved about Denis Pagan, loved about Clarko, put the best effort in, get a game plan and who knows, anything can happen.
โLet me tell you one thing I do know โ itโs not about money. It is an interesting seat โ not the Kangaroos seat, the AFL coaching seat."
Nathan Buckley ruled himself out of contention for the job on Saturday, scratching one name off the list of names linked to Arden Street. While North president Sonja Hood confirmed after the club's narrow win over the Tigers that she had approached Clarkson's management.