From Preston Leader
Reported by Sam Landsberger
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THE Northern Bullants are searching for their third senior coach in as many seasons, after Darren Harris stepped aside to take on a full-time development role with AFL affiliate Carlton.
Harris combined Bullants duties with the Blues' development coaching position this season, but was told he had to cut his workload to maximise results with Carlton's young academy for the 2012 season.
He steered the Bullants to a preliminary final against Port Melbourne this season, after replacing now West Coast assistant coach David Teague.
"I thought the way we finished off the year was outstanding," Harris said.
The former West Perth premiership star said Carlton fans could get excited about the promise shown by first-year players Andy McInnes and Pat McCarthy and with a full pre-season under his belt injury-plagued key forward Luke Mitchell could be a player to watch next season.
"I think Rohan Kerr is also starting to push up now and he's got to start putting pressure on those small forwards at Carlton, so there's some excitement to come," Harris said.
"Coaching is about relationships with people and you've got to really like the people you work with and be passionate about it, and I really did."
Carlton is expected to run the interview process to find Harris's replacement, with the Northern Bullants administration to tick off the preferred candidate.
The Bendigo Bombers are also searching for a new senior coach after Shannon Grant resigned to join the Western Bulldogs as an assistant to Brendan McCartney.
Grant and McCartney worked together at Essendon this season, while Werribee is on the lookout for a replacement for senior coach Paul Satterley, who accepted a development role a Melbourne.
Grant speared Bendigo up the ladder last season and consolidated to play finals this year, while Satterley impressed in all facets as he drove Werribee from second-last to a preliminary final in his first season.
Casey coach Bradley Gotch is out of contract as talks continue over his future, while Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres would only leave if he was offered an appealing position in the AFL.
Coburg coach Adam Potter has signed a one-year extension to remain at the helm until the end of 2013 after an impressive debut season.
Meanwhile, Western Jets coach Steve Kretiuk is in the mix to land a development role at an AFL club.
The Jets enjoyed their best season in 15 years under Kretiuk with star players Elliot Kavanagh and Will Hoskin-Elliot tipped to feature in the first round of this year's draft.
Captain Adam Kennedy has been pre-listed by Greater Western Sydney, while Lachlan Fairley and Jack Charleston are also hopeful of landing on an AFL list
