SCOTT West has been linked to a coaching role at Carlton, but the Western Bulldogs great insists he hasn’t had any official discussions with the Blues.
West, 38, resigned as coach of VFL club Werribee to pursue a return to AFL ranks.
There has been speculation that he is in the running for a coaching position at both Carlton and Essendon, with the rumour mill suggesting the Blues are favoured to secure his services.
But this is news to the man himself.
"Somebody told me there was something on Twitter about me going to Carlton, but I can honestly say I've indirectly had contact with Carlton through (manager) Scott Lucas but there hasn’t been any interview or direct contact," West told AFL.com.au.
West has formally spoken to the Bombers, but that was before Mark Thompson was appointed as the club's interim coach.
However, West remains "hopeful" that his immediate coaching future will be resolved soon.
The Blues also have a ready-made vacancy on their coaching panel following the departure of backline coach Gavin Brown, who has moved to North Melbourne.
In July, West met Carlton's director of coaching and development Rob Wiley at Visy Park. When asked about the meeting, West described it as simply "a casual catch-up".
Wiley doubles as an assistant coach in charge of the Blues' midfield, with the help of former Melbourne captain Brad Green, and there is speculation that the club is looking for another coach to focus solely on this area.
West appears well positioned for such a role.
Following his retirement in 2008 after 324 games and a club-record seven best and fairests with the Dogs – which this year earned him induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame – West spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Melbourne, where his responsibility was the Demons' midfield.
His two years at Werribee resulted in successive preliminary final appearances.
West told Gillette AFL Trade Radio last week that coaching his own team equipped him to take on any role with an AFL coaching panel.
He also described his involvement with Melbourne and North Melbourne – the latter through its partial alignment with Werribee – as "priceless".
Meanwhile, Carlton has denied a report that it offered an assistant coaching role to former Melbourne coach Mark Neeld.
According to a News Limited report on Tuesday, Neeld rejected an approach from the Blues that would have reunited him with his former Collingwood boss Mick Malthouse.
Carlton dismissed the claim on Twitter on Wednesday morning.
Neeld was an assistant under Malthouse at Collingwood for four seasons, including as senior assistant in 2010 and 2011.
Neeld was sacked by the Demons halfway through a three-year contract, after winning just five of his 33 games at the helm.
He recently returned from a study trip to New York and has maintained contact with Malthouse as he considers his options for next year.
AFL.com.au understands that Neeld and Malthouse recently met for an informal chat, during which Neeld's future was discussed, but no undertakings resulted.
