ONE OF the leading candidates for the Brisbane Lions senior coaching job will not enter the race, with assistant Stuart Dew keen to see out his contract with the Sydney Swans.
Dew, who was seen as one of the top three candidates to take on the position vacated by Justin Leppitsch, is contracted to the Swans until the end of 2018 and AFL.com.au has been told he will not break that deal.
It is understood that as part of his extension earlier this year there was a mutual agreement that Dew would not leave his expanded post as midfield and strategy coach to take up a senior job.
The 37-year-old was keen to avoid any distraction through September as the Swans embark on their seventh consecutive finals campaign and underlined his commitment to the club's hierarchy on Tuesday afternoon.
Dew will complete the AFL's Level Four coaching course at the end of this season and has been highly sought by rival clubs since the Swans' 2012 premiership.
He spoke to Carlton last year about the vacancy won by Brendon Bolton but was quick to pull out of the race.
He also chose not to pursue an opportunity to join Melbourne as the successor to Paul Roos in 2013.
A dual premiership player, Dew played 206 games with Port Adelaide and Hawthorn between 1997-2009.
He has been with the Swans as an assistant coach since late in 2009, starting his career as a development coach.
He has been one of the standout performers in the Level Four coaching course, impressing with his communication skills and tactical nous.
