Worsfold stuns with AFL turnaround

John Worsfold’s stunning about-face on a potential return to AFL senior coaching has made him the favourite for the Essendon job.

But Bombers great Tim Watson has urged caution, saying Worsfold must be certain he wants to take such a role on again.

Elsewhere, Adelaide ruck coach Matthew Clarke doesn’t expect Worsfold to make a final call on his AFL future until the end of the season.

Like the Bombers, the Crows are also in the market for a senior coach.

As recently as the weekend, the 2006 West Coast premiership mentor said he did not want to return to the role.

Worsfold is helping Adelaide as their coaching director following the death of Phil Walsh and will have that assignment until their season ends.

But in a television interview on Wednesday, Worsfold admitted his view on a possible return to senior coaching had softened.

“There is no doubt that having been back involved and then seeing how great an environment footy clubs are, that there is some thought there that it’s a good place to be,” he told Channel Seven.

“I will give it more thought than I certainly was at the start of the season.”

Watson said on Thursday there was a lot to like about Worsfold but the Eagles great must be 100 per cent committed.

“He’s a premiership coach and by all reports he’s a really straight shooter,” Watson said on SEN.

“He’s been great at being able to build a team, so he has this credibility.

“The one thing I would want to know, if you were sitting down with John Worsfold, (is) how passionate he is about returning to coaching.

“You wouldn’t want to have to talk someone into being a senior coach at an AFL club.”

Watson added that regardless of Essendon’s ongoing supplements saga, they did not necessarily need a proven coach.

“I wouldn’t rule out anyone,” he said.

Adelaide appointed Scott Camporeale as caretaker coach following the July 3 death of Walsh, while Essendon are hunting a replacement for James Hird, who left last week.

“I think it will be a question for the end of the season … there is plenty of time to worry about that at the end of the year,” Clarke said on Thursday when asked about Worsfold.

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