Adelaide development coach Tate Kaesler emerges as a leading contender for the North Adelaide coaching job

CROWS development coach Tate Kaesler has emerged as a frontrunner for the North Adelaide coaching job.

CROWS development coach Tate Kaesler has emerged as a frontrunner for the North Adelaide coaching job.

Kaesler — a former North and Sturt player — met with Roosters chief executive Greg Edwards last week and is understood to be the club’s new No. 1 target after SANFL talent manager and under-18 coach Brenton Phillips knocked back the chance to coach his former club.

Dual Norwood premiership player Garry McIntosh, who is currently coaching SAAFL club Payneham, Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie and nine-times Central District premiership midfielder Chris Gowans have also been sounded out for the North job.

But Younie and Gowans have already ruled themselves out of contention.

Stand-in North coach Michael Handby, who replaced Ken McGregor after round nine, said on Saturday that he is “unlikely to apply for it’’.

“I think football’s about timing and it’s probably not the right time for me,’’ said Handby, who has a 0-8 win-loss record since stepping up from an assistant’s role into the main job.

“(Senior coaching) has happened a lot quicker for me, I’m only 32 but I do think I can do the job.

“The club is probably looking for a fresh start in terms of a new coach coming in but I have time on my side.’’

Kaesler, 35, has been at Adelaide since 2009 and currently holds the position of forward development coach.

A winner of three SANFL reserves premierships as a player, he is highly respected for his teaching ability and is understood to have senior coaching aspirations.

After retiring as a player in 2007, Kaesler served as an assistant coach for the SA under-20 team in 2008 before joining Adelaide’s coaching ranks.

Those close to Kaesler say he has to decide whether he wants to stay in the AFL system or take the chance of improving his credentials by successfully leading a SANFL club in his own right.

Kaesler is understood to have the support of North champion Darren Jarman, who currently works as an assistant with the club’s under-18s.

North hopes to announce its new coach before the SANFL grand final.

Edwards was unavailable for comment yesterday but last week told The Advertiser the Roosters were hunting a coach who could create an era of success at Prospect and that it did not matter if the best-credentialed person had no previous senior coaching experience.

The Roosters have hit rock bottom, having won just one game this season with one round to play.