READ MORE: <\/strong>Coaching error doomed Port Adelaide in opening seconds of prelim 'choke' job<\/a><\/p>\n Mahoney is understood to have "impressed" in his first season as Essendon's football boss, overseeing an impressive 2021 season which saw the club make the finals unexpectedly. <\/p>\n The 43-year-old has been an ever-present figure in senior coach Ben Rutten<\/a>'s box during games throughout the year and has also played an active role in the club's list management. <\/p>\n Mahoney's decision to reject the AFL role could have implications on Carlton's senior coaching race with former North Melbourne coach Brad Scott understood to be weighing up the AFL role and the Blues role. <\/p>\n According to veteran AFL columnist Caroline Wilson, Scott had emerged as a contender for the Carlton role<\/a> after the club was knocked back by Alastair Clarkson and Ross Lyon.<\/p>\n "What is clear now is that Brad Scott holds the key to the Carlton coaching position, in my view," she told Nine's Footy Classified <\/em>last week.<\/p>\n "Brad Scott has not been interviewed formally, but I understand [he] is strongly considering throwing his hat into the ring."<\/p>\n<\/p>\n