Adelaide caretaker Scott Camporeale says he’s growing more comfortable as an AFL head coach but still doesn’t know if he wants the job next year.
Camporeale, who has won five of seven games since taking over after the death of his predecessor Phil Walsh, says a groundswell of public support for him to pitch for the fulltime job next year is “nice”.
“It would be worse if it was the other way, for sure, if they were trying to kick me out,” he told reporters on Friday.
“But as I have said all along, in the situation that we have been in, I’m doing my bit – we will make those decisions at the end of the day.”
Former West Coast coach John Worsfold, who joined the Crows as an interim coaching director after Walsh’s death on July 3, is considered a frontrunner for the Adelaide job – if he wants it.
Worsfold has softened his reluctance to coach next year but, like Camporeale, has yet to publicly stake a claim for the job.
“John has been a great resource for us and those decisions will take care of itself at the end of the year,” Camporeale said.
He said the coaching uncertainty wasn’t distracting the Crows, who can secure a finals berth with a win against the Eagles at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
But Camporeale said he was feeling more comfortable in the role with every game.
“As you go along, you get more and more comfortable sitting in the chair and being able to make calculated decisions,” he said.
“Early on there was a lot going on off-field, so that was difficult.
“But I have enjoyed it and we’re playing decent footy so the players are getting great reward for the blueprint that we put in place.”
Adelaide chief executive Andrew Fagan said a new coach would likely be appointed in early October.
“The selection panel … is actively in the market and working through our list of potential candidates,” Fagan said in a letter to members posted on the club’s website on Thursday.
“We will make an announcement as soon as there is something to say, although I don’t anticipate it stretching past the first week of October.”
