TWO-TIME North Melbourne premiership player Adam Simpson won't be pursuing the Kangaroos' coaching job any further.

Simpson, who coached West Coast to a flag in 2018, had initial discussions with North general manager of football Todd Viney and CEO Jennifer Watt.

But the former Roos captain said on Thursday he wouldn't be chasing the job.

"I'm not going to take it any further," he told SEN. 

"I had a good chat with Todd and Jen the other day, which was reported which is fine, and just upon reflection it's probably not going to work for me this time around.

"I let them know yesterday and I'll let them continue on with their journey, whether they get an old or new, that's totally up to North Melbourne."

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Simpson played 306 games for the Kangaroos, winning two premierships and a best and fairest.

The 50-year-old said the opportunity to coach his former club had been tempting.

"Once you're in, you're all in," Simpson said. 

"That was the hesitancy of it all. To go through where the club is, my history with the club, knowing some people there, having that thought, 'Geez, this would be cool' and starting the process. 

North Melbourne Hall of Fame inductees, Brent Harvey, Adam Simpson, Corey McKernan and Greg Miller with Legends Denis Pagan and Malcolm Blight during round 19 between North Melbourne and Melbourne at Marvel Stadium, July 18, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

"Then I realised in the end it probably didn't suit me as well as I thought it did and then the decision was made, didn't have to go the all in. 

"I was on the precipice and that doesn't mean you get the job or anything, but once you're in, you're in. So I worked through that as best I could with the family and with my manager so then we got to the decision to pass."