Watters in wings for Bulldogs
Scott Watters will consider rejoining the coaching ranks in the WAFL as South Fremantle hunt for a replacement for Paul Hasleby.
_The Weekend West _understands Watters, 45, would seriously weigh up becoming head coach at his old club if approached by Bulldogs officials.
South Fremantle announced on Thursday that Hasleby would quit once the season was over, meaning the Bulldogs have joined Perth in the market for a new coach for 2015.
Watters, who coached St Kilda in 2012 and 2013, has strong connections to South Fremantle, having won a best-and-fairest award there in 1987 before being drafted by West Coast.
He returned to the Bulldogs to play a further two seasons following his AFL retirement. He had also played for Sydney and Fremantle.
Watters, a dual WAFL premiership coach with Subiaco and former Collingwood assistant, told Channel 9's The Footy Show on Thursday he was ready to return to the AFL system next year and was considering options for assistant positions.
But family ties could weigh in favour of a move back to Perth from Melbourne, with Watters needing to consider the welfare of wife Emily and his three young sons. Any potential link-up with South Fremantle will hinge on the intentions of four-times WAFL premiership coach Tony Micale.
The Bulldogs and Perth have already spoken to Micale, who is back in Perth after a stint as an assistant to Watters at St Kilda.
The Demons have a head start on canvassing for replacements after sacking Damien McMahon last month on the back of six consecutive losses.
They intend to advertise the position next week.
West Perth premiership coach Darren Harris and Subiaco colts coach Steven Armstrong have been billed as candidates, but both are unlikely to fill the role.
Harris is only a year into taking the helm of leadership consulting firm Leading Teams in Perth and is understood to be at least another 12 months away from contemplating a return to senior coaching.
Armstrong - an Eagles premiership player and former Perth player - is planning to step up after coaching the colts side at Subiaco for the past three years.
However, he said he would not pursue the Perth position and would sit down with the Demons only if approached.
