NEIL Craig has not ruled himself out of applying for the job as Melbourne's senior coach beyond 2013 after taking over the job from Mark Neeld, who was sacked on Monday.
Craig said he thought he had finished with coaching when he left Adelaide at the end of 2011, but he would use the next 11 weeks to "see what the feelings are again.
"It is a tough job being the senior coach of an AFL club, doesn't matter what club you're in. It is a really tough job," he said.
"The headaches as early as yesterday came back, so the stress comes back pretty quickly. There will be 11 weeks to gauge that."
Craig said the club needed to take time to consider what sort of coach was needed to move the club forward.
"It will depend on what the club is looking for and I guess how I feel about sitting in the chair again for 11 weeks.
Craig said he took on the job when asked because the club was in exceptional circumstances.
"You do have a sense of responsibility to the players and the football club to be part of helping the club through," he said.
In his role as director of sports performance, Craig acted as a mentor for Neeld, who was new to the senior role when he began in 2012.
The former Adelaide coach said he was prepared to accept a portion of responsibility for the position Neeld found himself in on Monday.
"Watching it yesterday it brings back the emotions, having been through it myself. You do reflect: could you have done it better? Could you have done more?" Craig said.
"In hindsight you say 'yes I could have done that a bit better' or 'I wish I could have done that.' I guess the best person to answer that question would be Mark [Neeld] if you get that opportunity."
He did not wish to share any examples of what he might have done differently on the public record.
Craig said some changes would arise as a result of the mid-season review but it was difficult to change playing style too much midway through the season.
He said the club needed to change the external perception that the environment was not conducive to developing good players and ensuring that all those who remained stayed positive about Melbourne.
Craig also said that he and Mark Neeld were not poles apart when it came to their respective philosophies on football.
"Please understand that Mark Neeld has done a fantastic job for this football club … done some unbelievable groundwork," Craig said.
"Sometimes you just got to be able to survive in the industry long enough to see the really good work that you do and we'll never know that of course. All that I can say is that in my dealings with Mark [Neeld] the legacy he has left at this football club is very, very impressive."
