Melbourne are sounding out Hawthorn assistant Adam Simpson and West Coast’s Scott Burns about becoming the Demons’ coach-in-waiting under Paul Roos.
But Roos says Neil Craig’s time at the Dees is almost certainly over, with the caretaker coach now set to move on.
Roos says he has not personally spoken to Simpson or Burns about becoming his understudy, but he believes the club has.
“I think they have spoken to Adam Simpson, and I believe they have spoken to Scotty Burns,” Roos told Fox Footy’s On The Couch.
“I’ll certainly give them a call and suss them out … but I suspect my first conversation will be be (Demons football manager) Josh Mahoney to see where those two sit.”
West Coast assistant Burns could come into consideration to take over at the Eagles following John Worsfold’s resignation.
Already Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling has ruled himself out of any assistant’s role at Melbourne, saying he was happy with his burgeoning media career.
Roos said he understood Craig, who coached the Demons after they sacked Mark Neeld mid-season, would be leaving the club.
Craig has been linked with the head coach’s vacancy at Brisbane.
Roos also reiterated he wanted out-of-contract stars Colin Sylvia and Jack Watts to stay at the Demons, and pleaded the club’s case with both soon after his appointment on a two-year deal last week.
“I didn’t ask either of them for an answer – I just said ‘I really want you to be part of this football club’,” Roos said.
“I think they’re important parts of the football club, and I hope they’ll stay.”