Leon Cameron is out of the race to be Essendon’s next coach, reports SEN’s Gerard Whateley.
Cameron departed GWS earlier this year midway through his ninth season in charge and loomed as one of the best-credentialed coaches available to the Bombers.
New president Dave Barham sacked Ben Rutten following the Round 23 loss to Richmond after missing out on Alastair Clarkson earlier that week.
But despite reports on Thursday, Whateley says Cameron will stay put in Sydney for next year.
“Essendon’s coaching process, Leon Cameron is not going to participate in that,” he told AFL Nation.
“He was contacted by the Bombers in recent days but he’s going to stay with his original plan, that’s to remain in Sydney for next year to take a breather from senior coaching, to develop on a personal front for a future opportunity, but he is going to stay active in footy in Sydney.
“Tom Harley (Sydney CEO) told us last week that the Swans were going to meet with him, but I suspect we’ll learn in the next 48 hours what that looks like with Leon Cameron and the Swans.
“But he’s not going to participate in the Essendon process. It was erroneously reported yesterday that he was interested, that’s not the case.”
It comes as Ross Lyon ruled himself out of the mix to succeed Ben Rutten at the Dons, while former North Melbourne coach turned AFL footy operations boss Brad Scott has also reportedly told the club no.
Essendon GM of football Josh Mahoney is chairing Essendon’s coaching selection panel, with premiership coach Robert Walls and premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis also on the six-person panel.
"Leon Cameron will not participate in Essendon's coaching process. He will stay in Sydney and he will stay active in the football industry in Sydney. I suspect we will hear in the next 24 hours what it looks like with Leon Cameron and the Swans for next year"
— AFL Nation (@AFLNation) September 9, 2022
- Gerard Whateley