West Coast coach Adam Simpson has well and truly shut the door on a fairytale return to North Melbourne, saying he's committed to the Eagles' rebuild.
David Noble's axing as North Melbourne coach earlier this week sparked a fresh round of speculation that Simpson could be lured back to the club where he notched 306 games during a decorated playing career.
Although Simpson conceded there were parts of him that were "drawn" to North Melbourne's current plight, he reiterated that he is 100 per cent invested in his future at West Coast.
"I've been here for nine years and I'm as invested as I've ever been," said Simpson, who is contracted to West Coast until the end of 2024.
"I just haven't entertained the thought (of going to North).
"They're obviously going through some issues at the moment and it's been there for a couple of years,
"You've got history at the club, there's definitely parts of you that are drawn to what they're going through.
"I've got my eye on some mates who are over there but outside of that, I'm working through here."
When asked if this meant he was shutting the door on a return to the Kangaroos, Simpson replied: "I thought we shut it a while ago."
"Just because there's a change in the narrative at North, it doesn't change mine," he said.
"I'm fully invested in what we are doing. I haven't spoken to North at all in a long time.
"There's no need (for them to call me).
"There will come a time when I get tapped on the shoulder (by West Coast) but at the moment I am contracted and I'm up for the fight.
"It's going to be a long road for us and it would be silly to look sideways at the moment."
When asked if four-time flag-winning coach Alastair Clarkson would be a good fit for North, Simpson quipped: "I'm sure he's a good fit anywhere, except for West Coast."
Ross Lyon, Adam Yze, Don Pyke, Robert Harvey, Scott Burns, James Hird, Mark McVeigh, Nathan Buckley, Justin Leppitsch and Jaymie Graham are among the many other names who have been thrown into the mix.
Graham, who is currently an assistant at Fremantle, worked under Simpson at West Coast and is highly rated.
"I thought he was ready last year," Simpson said of Graham's readiness for a top job.
"I think there's enough evidence to suggest that he's capable of taking on a role."
