Highly-regarded assistant coach Sam Mitchell not interested in Carlton, North Melbourne senior jobs

Highly-rated Hawthorn assistant Sam Mitchell won’t be applying for the senior role at Carlton or North Melbourne as he continues his apprenticeship under Alastair Clarkson.

Sam Mitchell is committed to Hawthorn after being linked with the Carlton and North Melbourne roles. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

Senior coach-in-waiting Sam Mitchell has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Carlton and North Melbourne jobs.

Mitchell, a current assistant coach at Hawthorn, has been linked with posts at the Blues and Roos after gaining experience under premiership mentors Alastair Clarkson and Adam Simpson.

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But the 36-year-old, who retired in 2017 after a 329-game career, said he was not ready for a senior role.

“At some point I would love to be able to sit in front of a CEO or a president and say ‘I am your man’,” Mitchell said.

“Could I do that right now? I couldn’t say I know I am absolutely the right man for a head coaching job at the moment.”

Sam Mitchell is committed to Hawthorn after being linked with the Carlton and North Melbourne roles. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

Mitchell said he was enjoying a “pretty good apprenticeship” after returning to Victoria to work under Clarkson.

“At the moment I don’t feel like I could honestly look someone in the eye (and say) I’m the man,” he said.

“Eventually I’d like to get to that point but there’s a lot of learning to happen.

The four-time premiership player said he had been humbled to be linked with the North Melbourne and Carlton roles.

“It’s a real honour to be even mentioned over the last few weeks when this has come up,” he said on Channel 7.

Sam Mitchell working with reigning premier West Coast’s midfield. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

Mitchell was not one of six coaches included in the latest intake four the AFL’s level four program.

Carlton interim coach David Teague, Melbourne strategy co-ordinator Craig Jennings, Ashley Hansen and Daniel Giansiracusa (Western Bulldogs), Ashley Prescott (Gold Coast) and Henry Playfair (St Kilda) are the participants.