Bulldogs not for Watters
Scott Watters is out of the race to become South Fremantle's coach next season.
Watters, who led Subiaco to two WAFL premierships before stepping up to AFL ranks at St Kilda, had flown to Perth to watch South Fremantle's dominant win over East Fremantle at Fremantle Oval last Saturday.
He also met Bulldogs officials for long discussions about the role.
However, Watters told The West Australian he had decided not to apply for the vacant position.
He is expected to pursue opportunities to return to a coaching role at AFL level, almost 12 months after being sacked as Saints coach.
South Fremantle started the hunt for a replacement for outgoing coach Paul Hasleby last month.
The club will draw up a short-list of top candidates in the next fortnight with the aim of having its new league coach appointed by the end of the home-and-away season.
South Fremantle chief executive Stuart Kemp said they had received 10 applications for the coaching role.
"It's a quality mix of candidates," Kemp said. "We're very happy."
Former Fremantle assistant coach Todd Curley is understood to be a strong contender.
Curley, 41, played 118 matches as a defender at the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood from 1994 to 2001.
He coached West Perth from 2006-08 then spent four seasons as an assistant at Fremantle.
Dual Hawthorn premiership player Brent Guerra has also applied for the position, which will be decided by a senior panel that is being led by West Coast champion John Worsfold and South Fremantle premiership captain David Gault.
