Paul Roos will help select his successor, but his replacement could shape the decorated AFL coach's future at Melbourne.
The Demons' succession plan remains a constant talking point in the league, as club hierarchy stew over a short list of who should takeover from Roos when his time at the helm ends.
Roos is locked in for two seasons as Melbourne coach, with an optional third year which is expected to be a handover period.
Roos mentioned on Monday while doing his weekly slot for Fox Footy that Essendon mentor Mark Thompson was on a long list of candidates.
On Tuesday he made it clear the Demons' search was in the "very early stages".
"We're not going to talk to anyone (at the moment) and we can't, unless they're not coaching," Roos said.
"You're not going to disrespect any other football clubs."
The man who helped end a record 72-year premiership drought at Sydney recently admitted he wanted to stay in the Demons in some capacity once his time as coach ends.
Roos suggested his successor's level of experience could decide that role.
"It's really early in discussions with (chief executive) Peter (Jackson) and I have no idea what that (post-coaching job) would look like," he said.
"It might be predicated on who the coach is and how much help they may need, and what sort of role could fit around that."
Roos reaffirmed he will be one of many voices on the panel that will pick the Demons' next coach.
"I'll have a say, but I suppose it'll be more in the hands of other people," he said.
"We're trying to put in a place an eight-year structure, which is so much more stability than any club ever really has."
Roos was adamant the search would not be a distraction for the club.
"Internally it's not a focus for us at all. The meetings this week are about beating Port, the players understand," he said.
James Frawley is expected to return from injury on Saturday against the impressive Power, who Roos said deserved to be topping the ladder after 10 rounds.
"When you're scouting a team like Port, you really can't pinpoint one weakness," he said of the inaugural regular-season match in Alice Springs.
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