NORTH Melbourne has given its coaching candidates the strongest possible hint that it wants a first-time senior coach.

John Longmire’s decision this week to rule himself out of the job – following Adam Simpson’s same decision last week – comes with North favouring a new name.

North’s selection committee, fronted by CEO Jennifer Watt and GM of football Todd Viney, have not shut anyone out of the process.

But as they continue to assess applicants, they have also made it clear that premiership coaches like Simpson and Longmire would be behind before they started.

It’s understood Viney told Simpson that “second-time coaches don’t work” in their preliminary catch-up, while a manager of one potential applicant was told North “didn’t want another Malcolm Blight”.

Blight was sacked as St Kilda coach in 2001 only four months into a lucrative two-year deal - his third AFL coaching stint.

Fremantle assistant Jaymie Graham is considered the white-hot favourite to success Alastair Clarkson and become North Melbourne’s next senior coach after missing out on the Essendon and Carlton positions.

Clarkson’s assistant Xavier Clarke, along with Dogs assistants Daniel Pratt and Brendon Lade, are also among those in the running.

It is unclear whether Nathan Buckley is interested in pursuing the North Melbourne job.