HAWTHORN'S on-field success has the club's coaching staff in hot demand around the league with Melbourne reportedly offering a long-term deal to head coach Alastair Clarkson and assistant Leon Cameron the firm favourite to take over at the Western Bulldogs.

Caroline Wilson of The Age reported on Friday that Melbourne is "understood to have offered a five-year contract to the premiership coach" who is without a deal for 2012.

Melbourne football director Garry Lyon offered no comment on the matter while Alastair Clarkson's manager Liam Pickering was not available for comment, though has said recently he expected the 2008 premiership winning coach would remain with the Hawks in 2012 and beyond.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has maintained all year that a new deal with Clarkson would not be negotiated until after the season but Wilson writes "senior management has begun detailed contract talks" with the 43-year-old.

Adelaide has also expressed an interest in Clarkson, who spent four years coaching in South Australia as the boss of Central District in the SANFL and an assistant at Port Adelaide.

Another Hawk coach who could be headed elsewhere in 2012 is assistant Leon Cameron with Cameron installed as the $2.00 favourite with Sportsbet to be coaching at Whitten Oval next year.

Cameron, who played 172 games for the Bulldogs and was an assistant at the club for seven years, has thrown his hat into the ring for the Bulldogs' senior job, reports the Herald Sun, and he has the full backing of Clarkson.

"We'll support him in whatever he wants to do next year and beyond," Clarkson said.

"He's a quality fella and that's the reason why we attracted him from the Western Bulldogs in the first place.

"He's been a great acquisition to our coaching team, but we've got three home and away games left and hopefully finals and hopefully he'll continue to play his role here."