'I've got to knuckle down': Dean Solomon leaves door ajar for Essendon full-time job as Hird speaks on other roles

Interim Essendon coach Dean Solomon will decide at the end of the season whether he is going to put himself in the mix for the permanent position.

The premiership winning Bomber takes over this week following the sacking of Brad Scott on Tuesday.

While Carlton caretaker coach Josh Fraser ruled himself completely out of the Blues job immediately, Solomon meanwhile has left the door ajar.

READ MORE: League stunned as Ponga send off turns Origin opener

READ MORE: Epic Tedesco moment drags Blues to controversial victory

PLAYER RATINGS: Maroon 'badly exposed' after forced reshuffle

His plan is to assess where things sit at the end of the campaign as interim coach.

"It's the wrong thing to do to entertain any thoughts around (the coaching job)," Solomon told reporters on Thursday.

"I've got to knuckle down. That's where I'll sit with it for the rest of the season."

Solomon, who played in the 2000 premiership side alongside James Hird, said he's excited to hear he's ready to be back in the mix to coach again.

"I love the fact that he feels he's in a position to want to coach again," Solomon said.

"On a personal level I'm glad that's the case. Whether that happens or not, I've got no… I'm not part of any of those discussions."

Solomon denied reports that he and Scott butted heads this year, after he left the club's board to join the coaching staff.

"Brad and I got on really, really well. I respect Brad. I respected Brad as a player and as a coach and what he has been able to achieve," he said.

"There was not one part of me who felt there was any bitterness between us."

Solomon also disagrees with suggestions that a former Essendon great needs to be the one to take the reins and turn the club around.

"You don't have to be an Essendon person to coach Essendon," he said.

"There's so many examples of people who played at the club who coached the club, there's people who haven't played at the club.

"There's a lot of success stories. You don't have to be an Essendon person to coach this club."

Hird meanwhile is all-in on becoming the next coach of Essendon, but doesn't expect Carlton or Tasmania to reach out regarding their vacancies.

The former Dons coach has publicly stated he wants to be part of the process at Tullamarine, which has led to speculation regarding his level of interest in the other available jobs.

Michael Voss resigned as coach of Carlton a fortnight before the Bombers moved on Brad Scott, while the Devils will hire their inaugural coach at some point in 2026.

Asked directly if he had an interest in the Carlton job, Hird said his focus was on Essendon.

"I think you'd field a call. I don't know what Carlton's process is just yet. My passion would be to go back and help Essendon, but let's wait and see," Hird told ESPN on Wednesday.

When asked if he could see a world where the Blues picked up the phone and called him, Hird laughed off the question.

"I can't see any world where they ask me. IKON Park would blow up before they ask me," he said.

However, Hird sees strong merit in all three coaching vacancies.

"You can almost put Carlton and Essendon in the same bucket. Two traditional clubs who are struggling, they have some young players coming through, they have work to do on both lists to get the talent there," Hird told Nine's Footy Furnace on Tuesday night.

"Carlton and Essendon are about developing players, but you've also got this massive club behind you that you need to be the face of.

"But Tassie, what a role there. You get five or six years to build a football club without absolute pressure to win from the start.

"To coach any AFL club would be a privilege, but they're three unique opportunities."

Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel agreed, saying he isn't putting any one of the roles above the other as they all have huge upside.

"With Tasmania, you get to build a football club, you have so many resources, you have a whole state behind you. Eventually you've got a new stadium, access to incredible talent," Bartel said.

"I think that would be an amazing thing to get to build an AFL club from scratch. You get an opportunity to shape a culture and start something brilliant.

"Carlton and Essendon, they're two powerhouse clubs, you should be excited by the opportunity. Lots at your disposal, I think they're all exciting opportunities.

"Some people may be fearful of them, but if they are, they're not the right people for the job anyway. I think they're all incredible opportunities.

"Carlton has some quality youngsters with Jagga Smith and Harry Dean, you've got Cody Walker coming in, I think there's still plenty there and some good people in their football department.

"Essendon, we can rattle off all the names of the young talented players they have. I think all three, for slightly different reasons, would be unbelievable opportunities. It's an honour to just be one of the 18 AFL coaches."