Why Alastair Clarkson would be “jumping” at West Coast job if he were an assistant coach

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson can’t understand why a raft of assistant coaches around the AFL have said no to joining the process for the vacant West Coast head coaching role.

Carlton’s Ash Hansen, Essendon’s Daniel Giansiracusa, Sydney’s Dean Cox, Port Adelaide’s Josh Carr, Fremantle’s Jaymie Graham as well as Nathan Buckley are some names who have withdrawn from the race after being approached by the Eagles.

Clarkson was asked whether he’d be putting his hand up for the role if he were an experienced AFL assistant by David King and Kane Cornes on SEN Breakfast, and the four-time premiership coach is certain he’d grab the opportunity to enter the race if it was in that position.

King: “If you're a semi-experienced assistant coach and the West Coast Eagles job is up for grabs, is it just get your hands on the wheel?

“Do you just take the job if you’ve got the chance or do you have to really sit back and say, ‘Hang on, I’m going to assess which role is absolutely right for me’.”

Clarkson: “If I was an assistant coach out there, I'd be jumping at that job.

“They’re the best-resourced club in the competition.

“(I am surprised) because there are only 18 jobs in the competition and in the land.”

Cornes: “Is it a scary thought putting your hand up, going through the process and getting knocked back?

“You did it on the eve of the final series, you put your hand up, go through the process, get the job and it’s worked out the way it’s worked out.

“Others are reluctant to do that in fear of missing out.”

Clarkson: “I mean, they need to factor that in, but if you don't put your hand up, you're never going to get the job.

“Rejection is part of life unfortunately, but that’s the plum job in the competition – how could you want anything better?

“They’re a really successful club with historical success. They’re really well financed and supported.

“They're just going to go up. I’d be grabbing that opportunity as quickly as I could if I were an assistant coach out there.”

After the raft of withdrawals, Eagles interim coach Jarrad Schofield, GWS assistant Brent Montgomery and Melbourne assistant Andrew McQualter are considered the leading hopefuls for the role.