Dual premiership coach and Essendon's exiting senior coach, Mark Thompson, has not only ruled himself out of the running for the Adelaide coaching job, but has clearly signalled his disappointment with Adelaide's axing of his friend and former assistant Brenton Sanderson.

"No, I'm not interested," said Thompson when asked about the job that had opened up at the Crows. "I wouldn't go there - especially now." Sanderson worked alongside "Bomber" at Geelong, where the pair forged a close relationship. Thompson had been in contact with Sanderson on Wednesday night, when the news of his sacking filtered through.

Essendon wishes to retain Thompson in a new role supporting the coaches, which is yet to be confirmed or finalised.