AS THE race for the Carlton job heats up, Nathan Buckley has given a glowing endorsement of Collingwood assistant Scott Burns' senior coaching credentials.
 
Burns, the Pies' midfield coach, reportedly presented to the Blues' coaching subcommittee on Thursday.
 
However, highly-rated Sydney Swans assistant Stuart Dew has appeared to rule himself out of the running.
 
And the 35-year-old, who started as a development coach at the Swans in 2009, says he hasn't been contacted by Adelaide.
 
“I had an initial chat with Carlton, but I haven’t pursued that any further. I informed the club (the Swans) of that this week,” Dew told Fox Footy on Friday night.
 
“In terms of the Adelaide job, I haven’t heard anything.
 
“It’s business as usual for me. With a Friday night game, I’ve gone about my work with Sydney and that’s it really.”
 
Burns is reportedly on Carlton's shortlist of candidates, which also includes interim boss John Barker and Hawthorn assistant Brendon Bolton.
 
He was an assistant to West Coast premiership coach John Worsfold from 2009-13, before the Magpies' Hall of Famer returned to the Westpac Centre to reunite with Buckley last year.
 
"Obviously Burnsy's a really close friend. Our paths have been intertwined over our football careers and I think he's a fantastic football person," Buckley told 3AW.
 
"As skipper to have a bloke like him next to me – or next to his teammates really – he's so competitive, reliable and courageous and he actually coaches in a very similar manner.
 
"He's very strong and forthright but always has his players' ears and a capacity to build strong relationships.
 
"I've had a few chats with Burnsy over the last couple of months in particular, but obviously across the length of his journey, (about) his ambitions to senior coach.
 
"I'd love to see him with that opportunity one day."
 
The Blues' coach selection panel – consisting of CEO Steven Trigg, Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, Chris Judd and Ken Sheldon – is aiming to appoint Mick Malthouse's successor by the end of August.