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Top Dog or bust for Maskos

Top Dog or bust for Maskos

South Fremantle colts coach Arthur Maskos has put his hat in the ring for the Bulldogs' senior job, and is preparing to leave the club should he miss out.

Maskos, who led the colts to three grand finals for two premierships in his first three seasons, was one of the first candidates interviewed by the Bulldogs in their search to replace outgoing coach Paul Hasleby.

The club is expected to finish the first round of interviews next week and hopes to announce its new coach in the final week of the WAFL regular season.

_The Weekend West _understands former Fremantle assistant Todd Curley remains the favourite to replace Hasleby, but Maskos' long involvement with the club and deep knowledge of the playing list have him in the frame with the club's decision makers.

Before taking the colts role in 2011, Maskos spent one year as an assistant coach at East Fremantle and seven years working with the Bulldogs' development squads.

He said he would not return to the colts next season if he failed to win the league job.

"From what I've seen and what I've learnt, a lot of the boys at South Fremantle are kids I've coached through development squads and colts and whatever. I just think I can do something with the group of boys that are there," he said.

"That's where I'm confident that I can build a good team around me to make sure that we can get the younger list at South Fremantle up to speed a lot quicker than some other people.

"When I spoke to the selection panel I said 'this is my submission that I put together over the last three or four weeks, but this is a body of work that I've been looking at for the last three or four years'."

Perth are also in the process of appointing a coach.

The Demons began interviewing their final six candidates yesterday but are unlikely to make an announcement on Damien McMahon's replacement until their season winds up in two weeks.

Two of the six candidates are from interstate. Recently retired Hawthorn player Brent Guerra and former AFL player and East Fremantle coach and current WAAFL coach Earl Spalding are believed to be on the list.

After being sacked by the Demons in June, McMahon has taken a role with Claremont, working under his former assistant Michael Broadbridge.

McMahon will work in a development role with the club's senior group for the rest of the season, but has yet to begin talks about staying with the Tigers next year.