Paul Roos has all but ruled out coaching in the AFL next year, quipping that the only role he would consider undertaking would be as coach of the fictional "Waikiki Whalers".
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Melbourne chief executive Peter Jackson told Fairfax Media on Thursday that he would be "staggered' if Roos was not approached for a senior coaching role at the end of the season, when the 2005 premiership coach's three-year tenure at the helm of the Demons comes to an end.
But while Roos said he would talk to Jackson and football manager Josh Mahoney later in the year about the possibility of remaining there in a new role, the possibility of him taking charge of another side in 2017 was fanciful.
"I know people probably don't believe so there's no point in me addressing it but unless there's a team in Waikiki, and they're the Waikiki Whalers, I'm happy to start a new team, if Gill wants to start one over there," Roos said at AAMI Park on Friday, drawing laughter from reporters.
"I'm happy to be the director of coaching or something like that.
"To be honest it's pointless addressing the issue, because my intentions are [spending time with] family, my intentions are travel, but that's just the way I see it at the moment."
Roos reiterated that his focus was directed squarely at continuing to educate the improving Demons, who enter Saturday's clash against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium with a 3-2 record.
"I'm excited about the year. We've had some brief discussions, Josh, myself and Peter and we're all really comfortable, but we're all focused on this year.
"If we sit down during the year fantastic, if we don't and it's the end of the year, that's fine."
Saturday's match will mark the long-awaited debut of 2014's No.2 draft pick Christian Petracca, whose first taste of the AFL has been delayed by injuries.
Roos said the Demons were excited to see Petracca in action, even if the man taken before him, Saint Paddy McCartin, has been rested for the round-six encounter.
"Yeah I think we're all looking forward to seeing him play," Roos said.
"The game goes up another level from the VFL. I'm expecting him to have an impact on the game. He'll play mainly forward and a little bit through the midfield."
While Petracca will at last be unveiled, fellow early selections Angus Brayshaw and Clayton Oliver will both play in the VFL. Brayshaw has been dropped for the second time this season after a slow start to the year on the back of a pre-season knee injury, while Oliver has been overlooked for a return after being rested last weekend.
Roos said he expected Brayshaw would spend an extended time in the second-tier competition.
"We had a really good chat around him. Probably the break when he did his knee in that first NAB Cup game knocked him around more than we felt. And then we got him in and back for a week.
"Who knows how long he'll be back in the seconds for but I just think we need to give him a block now where we say, 'get yourself fit, get yourself confident.' Because we know he's super-talented, but he's a fair way off that."
Oliver could consider himself unlucky, according to Roos.
"He's a little bit stiff, but it's not an exact science ... you're guessing a little bit as to how much volume [young players] can take. But you do know, someone like Clayton who had groin issues pre-season last year, struggled in the first half [of last year], had a really good second half of the year. You've got to be really mindful of the load.
"I said to Clayton, 'just go back, play really good footy and knock the door down again to get back in the team'."
The Dees haven't beaten the Saints since 2006.
