Ross Lyon has labelled a return to coaching in the form of the Bombers' top job as almost out of the question as the ravaged Essendon board sets about their search for a new coach.
Sunday spelt the final hammer blow for embattled coach Ben Rutten as the board finally cut him loose after a week of humiliating deliberations finally culminated in the 39-year-old's sacking.
The Bombers' number one target on their hit-list for coaching replacements came in the form of quadruple premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, however the legendary coach instead chose to return to Arden Street to take the helm at the Roos, frustrating the Essendon top brass.
Attention has now turned towards other candidates and naturally, Lyon, as a former coach not tied to any side, is a name that has been linked to the vacant position.
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However, the former Saints and Dockers coach has been quick to take an extinguisher to the figurative fire that is a move to Essendon, putting distance between himself and the unfilled job.
“I am very wary and I am very cautious of anything to do with AFL senior coaching,” he said on Footy Classified on Wednesday.
“How anyone could mitigate that for me I don’t even know. I think it’s highly unlikely.”
New Essendon president David Barham has outlined his intentions for what he would like in the club's next coach, saying that he wanted a more seasoned figure to guide the club on the next phase of their journey.
Lyon, who managed to reach the last Saturday in September twice across his coaching career, has racked up a total of 13 years of experience over the course of his two stints at St Kilda and Fremantle.
Last year, the 55-year-old was heavily linked with the vacant Carlton job, however took himself out of the race, handing the position to current coach Michael Voss and choosing to pursue his media duties instead.
Lyon pointed out this phase is part of the reason why he is now a bit more cautious to voice his intentions over job openings.
“I certainly didn’t enjoy what I allowed myself to be bought into last year,” he said.
“I probably said too much on [Footy Classified], I was too honest and people don’t deal with that.
“Then there’s subtleties ... there’s nuances out there, I’m just cautious and wary.
“If he (Barham) heard me last night and goes ‘I can mitigate you wariness and being cautious.’ If he can mitigate that (I might consider it).”
The recent volatility at the Bombers means that it would take a brave person to step foot into The Hangar after the way Rutten was so publicly ousted.
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Additionally, the untenable position of the board has been confirmed over the past few days with the resignation of four members, including executive officer Xavier Campbell.
Pile on the fact that club captain Dyson Heppell may very well be off north to link up with Stuart Dew's Suns and that their 2022 campaign was incredibly mediocre, the Essendon job could now be seen to be one of the most unattractive prospects in the footballing world as of current.
