It's been more than a decade since the Melbourne Football Club were in the market for a new coach, but with the recent sacking of Simon Goodwin, the Dees are on the lookout for a new person to lead the club into 2026 and beyond.
The Demons were thought to be considering a future without Goodwin for some time, so chances are they've already been sniffing around to see who might be available.
There won't be a shortage of options for them to consider, with multiple former premiership coaches currently without a gig, while a number of first-time options will also throw their hat in the ring.
The Sporting News looks at who the Dees are most likely to consider for the coveted head coaching job.
MORE: Melbourne set to sack Simon Goodwin after run of poor form
5. Ken Hinkley
Hinkley's days as coach of Port Adelaide are nearly over, with him currently seeing out a controversial succession plan that will see him officially hand over the keys to Josh Carr at season's end.
As most coaches often do, one would expect Hinkley to spend at least a year out of the coaching game before taking up another role.
But many have pointed out that Hinkley has looked a lot more relaxed in his final months as coach of the Power, with some speculating Carr is already pulling the strings, while Hinkley stays on for the optics.
"It looks like Josh Carr will be pulling the strings tonight."
— 7AFL (@7AFL) June 26, 2025
🗣️ Kane Cornes on Ken Hinkley sitting at the back of the Port Adelaide coaches' box | #AFLPowerBlues pic.twitter.com/pAdC9FfSdX
If so, perhaps he will feel refreshed enough to dive right into a new role in the coming months.
Despite never making a grand final, Hinkley has an impressive record during his time at Alberton, reviving a struggling club into a perennial contender, which included four preliminary final appearances during his 13-year reign.
4. John Longmire
Longmire was part of the latest coaching change before Goodwin's sacking, only stepping down as coach of Sydney last November.
His protégé Dean Cox has had a tough run in his first year after taking over as coach of the Swans, with Sydney set to miss the finals in 2025.
But that only speaks to the impressive run Longmire had as coach of the 'bloods,' which included a premiership in 2012, before a further three grand final appearances.
Thumping losses in the 2022 and 2024 grand finals do little to tarnish his legacy, with there being no denying he is one of the best coaches of the modern era.
Having not even been out of the game 12 months though, it would seem unlikely Longmire would look to return to the coaching ranks so soon.
After 14 years as coach, many suspected Longmire may have felt burnt out and in need of an extended break.
“To me it looked like he was somewhat burnt out... he was clearly on edge with the fallout of the last two grand final losses clearly weighing on him,” Channel Seven's Kane Cornes said late last year.
With his impressive resume, Longmire would likely be Melbourne's first preference, but the big question will be has he spent enough time out of the game to re-energise himself?
3. First-timer
Teams such as Collingwood and GWS have opted for first-time senior coaches in recent years to great success, and one could argue that this path makes the most sense for a Melbourne side that is likely heading towards a rebuild.
A first-time coach would allow the person at the helm to grow with a developing list, which includes a wealth of young talent such as Kysaiah Pickett, Harvey Langford, Caleb Windsor, Xavier Lindsay, Judd McVee, Jake Bowey, Jacob van Rooyen, Daniel Turner and more.
Senior assistant coaches such as Ash Hansen (Carlton) and Daniel Giansiracusa (Essendon) have previously applied for other head coaching gigs, and would likely pursue the top job at Melbourne given they are already based in Victoria.
Hayden Skipworth at Collingwood is a name that has been floated around as a senior coach waiting in the wings, while Brisbane footy boss Danny Daly has also long been touted as senior coach-material, although it's believed he's next in line at the Brisbane Lions once Chris Fagan moves on.
Troy Chaplin has been announced as the Dees' interim coach for the remainder of the 2025 season, also giving him the opportunity to put forward his case for the role.
2. Adam Simpson
Similarly to Longmire, Adam Simpson only recently departed the coaching ranks, mutually parting ways with the West Coast Eagles midway through last year.
While Simpson's recent record doesn't exactly stand out, with the Eagles only winning eight games during his final three years at the helm, it was clear there were reasons beyond Simpson for the club's fall from grace.
Also like Longmire, Simpson has a premiership to his name, having guided West Coast to a famous flag in 2018, while also getting them to the grand final in 2015.
Recent reports from The West Australian had said the 49-year-old had moved to Melbourne and been in “casual talks” with at least one Victorian club, with the Dees suggested to be a potential suitor.
However, Simpson flatly denied those rumours last week, contending that he was enjoying his new role in the media, and that he currently had no interest in a coaching return.
"There’s no real desire to jump straight back in (to coaching) at the moment,” he told AFL 360.
1. Nathan Buckley
Unlike the other former senior coaches mentioned, it's been a long time between drinks for Nathan Buckley, with the Collingwood legend having not coached since 2021.
Buckley's last game as coach ironically came against Melbourne, where the lowly Magpies defeated the Demons by 17 points, making Collingwood the only team Melbourne failed to beat during their premiership year.
Buckley was part of one of the most infamous succession plans in AFL history, taking over Mick Malthouse as coach of Collingwood in 2012, where he'd spend nearly a decade at the helm.
Buckley experienced both the highs and lows of coaching during his time at Collingwood, leading the club deep into September several times, including making it to 'the big dance,' where the Pies were on the losing end of one of the all-time great grand finals against Adam Simpson's West Coast Eagles.
Since departing Collingwood, Buckley has embarked on a successful media career, constantly knocking back interest in a return to coaching.
But the 53-year-old acknowledged earlier this year that "there's a chance" he returns to the coaches' box, after he was linked to the Tasmanian Devils, with the club due to enter the competition in the coming years and on the lookout for an inaugural senior coach.
"That coaching bug is still there, but I'm really enjoying what I'm doing at the moment," he told SEN in May.