MELBOURNE chief executive Steve Harris said yesterday that the Demons still have plenty of questions — some of them age-related — over whether Kevin Sheedy is the right choice to coach them.
Harris and football manager Chris Fagan met 59-year-old Sheedy, as well as several other candidates for the vacant coaching position, late last week and have arranged to again meet with the sacked Essendon coach.
Asked whether Sheedy was Melbourne's top choice, Harris said there were some issues on which the club needed to be persuaded.
"Sheeds in a sense has got the most experience and the highest profile, so that's clearly understood," Harris told Foxtel in an interview during yesterday's match against Sydney in Canberra.
"But there are issues like what his expectations are of the list, how he relates to young players, what he would bring to the club in terms of support staff, or what he might need, and what he might be like in year two, year three, even year four, by which time he'll be 60, 61, 62, 63.
"The decision we make is a big one for our club, so we've got to make sure it's right and therefore we're not going to rush into it."
He said Sheedy, who has also been approached by Fremantle about joining the Dockers in a managerial role, was yet to make up his mind whether he wanted the job.
"Sheeds is desperate for another premiership and unless he thinks Melbourne is in a position where the two of us together can pull it off, he won't come," he said.
Harris said he favoured a three-year appointment for the new coach, saying a two-year term would almost be a "non-decision".
Other candidates include Carlton caretaker coach Brett Ratten, Collingwood assistant coach Guy McKenna, Western Bulldogs assistant Chris Bond and the Demons' caretaker Mark Riley.
Melbourne chairman Paul Gardner said there were probably 20 candidates for the four vacant senior coaching jobs.
"We're not going to be rushed. It's a very important decision," he said. "Melbourne's had the same coach for 10 years and next year's our 150th year and we'll find the best person to take us forward. We'll find a coach that works with the Melbourne Football Club and not just for the publicity and not just for the marketing."
Gardner said he wanted the rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney to be built up and mooted the possibility of one day playing the game on a Friday in Canberra.
AAP, with SAMANTHA LANE
