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Two familiar faces lead Roos race... but don’t sleep on these dark horses: 24 head coach candidates For over a decade, North Melbourne has preached patience. Now, after parting ways with Alastair Clarkson, the time for the Kangaroos to get their biggest decision right is now. Foxfooty.com.au profiles the 24 candidates the Kangaroos should consider as part of their search, with two clear favourites — as well as an emerging duo with major ties to Arden Street. Watch every match of the 2026 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. John Longmire and Adam Simpson The two star Fox Footy talents are almost certain to be vying for the one head coaching role. With 506 games between them as one-club players for North Melbourne, the duo are impossible to look past as the best fit for the club’s next top leader. Longmire has been out of the head coaching hot seat for nearly two seasons now, and has been sounded out seriously by Melbourne and Tasmania, among others, since stepping down from the role at Sydney at the end of 2024. Longmire took over from Paul Roos at the Swans at the end of the 2010, with nearly a decade and a half of success following. A premiership in 2012 was the obvious highlight, with five Grand Final appearances a massive nod to his success in the role. Simpson, West Coast’s 2018 premiership coach, has also been relentlessly questioned over his desire to coach again at the top level. That desire took a small halt after Michael Voss’ departure from Carlton, seeing as he was serving in a consultancy role overseeing coach development at the Blues. The 50-year-old worked with developing a wave of younger players during the back end of his time as the Eagles, which could work particularly well in his favour given the list profile current at Arden Street. Is there a world where the pair join forces? It’s unlikely, but as of right now, the Kangaroos premiership players are well ahead of any at the start line. Jaymie Graham Is Fremantle’s assistant coach the best of the rest? That’s certainly no slight on any of the other contenders who may wish to join the race for North’s vacancy, but from all reports, the 43-year-old interviewed extremely well in quests to take the reins at Carlton and Essendon respectively in recent months. A former West Coast forward, Graham’s stints across St Kilda, the Eagles and Dockers will no doubt hold him in high stead once more. The Eagles were very keen in late 2024 when looking for a replacement for Adam Simpson, but Graham pulled out of the race. He continues to be touted as a figure who has the potential to be a future senior coach, and this may just be the one for him if the Kangaroos are looking for a first-timer. Nathan Buckley The Collingwood legend’s name is thrown around every head coach sacking, and with good reason. The now-Geelong assistant coach was pipped at the post for the inaugural Tasmania job by Ken Hinkley, and was sounded out for Melbourne’s vacancy last year. His desire to coach again at the top level evidently still burns bright, and with where the Kangaroos’ list is at right now, there really aren’t many better placed to come straight in. He’s a 280-game player, Brownlow Medallist, Norm Smith winner and seven-time All-Australian who coached the Magpies for a decade — including a grand final appearance in 2018. And, in a very funny throwback, Buckley was understood to be the Kangaroos’ number one preference to replace Dani Laidley all the way back in 2009; despite having no previous coaching experience. Are we about to go full circle? David Hale and Daniel Pratt While Simpson and Longmire are clearly — and rightly — the hot favourites, could the Roos look to other former players turned highly-rated assistant coaches? Pratt played 116 of his 119 AFL games for the Kangaroos, with his best season coming in 2008 when he made the All-Australian squad. His coaching career then began in 2014 at West Coast. He ultimately spent 10 seasons at the Eagles, which included being the backline coach in the club’s 2018 premiership season, as well as stints leading the AFLW program and WAFL side. Pratt has led the Western Bulldogs’ backline for the past three seasons. He was in the initial mix for the vacant Essendon role earlier this year, but didn’t go deep in the process. Hale was taken by North Melbourne with Pick 7 in the famous 2001 super draft. He played 129 games for the Kangaroos — which included a 37-goal season in 2008 — before he was traded to Hawthorn. Five years later, he retired as a triple premiership Hawks ruck. Hale moved straight into coaching, joining Fremantle for six seasons as an assistant before returning to the Hawks just months after Sam Mitchell was confirmed as the club’s new senior coach. Hale led Hawthorn’s forwards in 2022 before moving to the midfield assistant role for three seasons. This year, Hale oversees the Hawks’ strategy and opposition area. James Rahilly The 90-game Cats midfielder was in the early Carlton mix this year, suggesting he’s in the mix for many in the industry. Rahilly began his coaching journey back at Geelong under Chris Scott in 2011 before joining Adelaide in late 2020 for three seasons. Rahilly then linked back up with Scott and the Cats ahead of the 2024 season. He’s highly regarded for his tactics and ability to coach ball movement. Cats great Cameron Mooney told AFL Tonight earlier this year people at Geelong think Rahilly is “ready to go” as an AFL senior coach. Corey Enright Touted as a future senior AFL coach — and someone who’s clearly looking for his next challenge. Enright this season served as St Kilda’s head of strategy and game plan after joining in 2021 as a defensive assistant. It was revealed last year Enright — a triple premiership Cat and six-time All-Australian - had been unofficially earmarked as Ross Lyon’s long-term successor at Moorabbin. But Enright is out of contract at the Saints, went deep in the recent Carlton coaching process - which was ultimately won by interim boss Josh Fraser — and was recently spotted meeting with Geelong duo Chris Scott and Andrew Mackie at a cafe, while he’s also recently met with Collingwood. If North wanted Enright, the timing couldn’t be better. Murray Davis The seasoned Adelaide coaching director shapes as a likely applicant for the Roos’ vacancy, after narrowly falling short in the Essendon race. Davis made it to the final four in the Bombers’ process before getting beat out by Mark McVeigh. “The process was really thorough (and) I loved every minute of it,” Davis told the ABC in the aftermath. “I got some great feedback, and that will hold me in great stead down the track. Should there be another club out there that would like me to go through the process, I would certainly put my hand up again.” Davis spent 13 years in Brisbane, working alongside Chris Fagan in helping propel the Lions back up the ladder before moving to West Lakes in late 2024. The veteran’s first year at the club saw the Crows ascend to minor premiers, working closely with senior coach Matthew Nicks and the wider panel of assistants. James Kelly The triple Geelong premiership star and current Cats assistant continues in his search for a senior coaching opportunity. Kelly made it to the final four of Carlton’s process, before it landed on Josh Fraser. He was also sounded out for the Essendon role, indicating he’s getting closer to an elusive opportunity. Kelly was also one of the candidates beaten to the Melbourne job by Steven King last year. The respected assistant finished his decorated playing career at Essendon in 2017 before quickly moving into an assistant coaching role at the same club for three seasons. He resigned in February 2021 to care for his two young sons full-time, before linking back up with the Cats as an assistant in September that year. Since then, Kelly has honed his craft under arguably the competition’s best mentor in Chris Scott. After missing out on the Demons gig last year, Kelly told the Geelong Advertiser: “I don’t ever want to really make big statements about that sort of stuff (coaching my own team), but I think just as they come, you just work through your own process. And if things line up, then you have a throw of the stumps and if they don’t, then I absolutely love working where I do.” Hayden Skipworth We’d have a headline field day if Skipworth became a Kangaroo … Skipworth started at Collingwood in 2019 as its head of academy, before quickly being promoted to the senior coaching panel. The highly-rated Collingwood assistant has long been considered a head coach-in-waiting, having been short-listed in Melbourne’s coach search last year before opting not to pursue the role. It came after he participated in the West Coast process in 2024 before the Eagles landed on Andrew McQualter, with that experience holding him in good stead for the next time he opts to pursue a lead role. Skipworth told reporters last month he “definitely” still harbours ambitions to be a senior coach, but stressed to reporters: “It’s got to be a good fit for me and the club.” Ash Hansen Might be a good time for the Roos to suss out Hansen, considering he entered 2026 as Carlton’s senior assistant, yet wasn’t named as the Blues’ interim boss and didn’t appear to feature heavily in the Blues’ search for their full-time boss. Hansen, the brother of former Kangaroo Lachie Hansen, was a 2006 West Coast premiership player before his 2010 retirement. He began his coaching career with the Western Bulldogs, which is where he spent nine seasons - including coaching Footscray to the 2016 VFL premiership. This was Hansen’s fifth year at the Blues, looking after the club’s backline after previously leading the forwards. He opted not to pursue the vacant Eagles position in 2024, choosing to remain in Victoria for family reasons. On coaching his own AFL side one day, Hansen said in 2024: “I have certainly got a passion for it, and coaching my own team in the VFL back at Footscray was a great eye-opener to the joy that the job can bring you and how you can influence others. It’s certainly a passion of mine and one day, if those opportunities do open up, I’ll certainly look to seek them.” Danny Daly Every time the league sees a head coach depart a club, it would become less and less of a shock if Brisbane’s football boss landed the vacancy. A popular footy figure, Daly has long been linked to coaching roles — most notably having held discussions with Melbourne last year prior to opting out. Daly joined Brisbane’s coaching panel in late 2014, before being promoted as their General Manager of Football at the end of 2020. It now goes without saying the mastermind has played a significant role in Brisbane’s back-to-back premiership triumphs. SEN’s Tom Morris said back in May Daly is: “a highly-regarded football figure” that “still harbours some aspirations to coach.” Xavier Clarke and Michael Barlow A couple of well-credentialed guys already in the door at Arden St. Clarke, who played 106 games for St Kilda and the Brisbane Lions from 2002 to 2010 before retiring in 2011, joined the Kangaroos’ coaching ranks in late 2023 after spending eight seasons as a development coach at Richmond during the club’s successful premiership era. Clarke also coached the Indigenous All Stars team to a 43-point win against Fremantle in early 2025. Barlow, the former Docker and Sun, joined the Kangaroos in late 2023 after a stunning stint at Werribee. Post-retirement, Barlow linked back up with the Bees as a playing assistant coach for two seasons before being promoted to senior coach ahead of the 2021 season. Barlow in 2023 led Werribee to a 17-game winning streak and the side’s first Grand Final appearance in almost two decades, earning him VFL Coach of the Year status. Some of the players in that Werribee team included Shaun Mannagh, Jack Henderson, Kye Annand and Sam Clohesy, who’d all go on to be drafted by AFL clubs. Daniel Giansiracusa Giansiracusa was one of the short-listed candidates beaten to the Melbourne job by Steven King last year, but more recently, Carlton very recently. The former Bulldog had spent the previous six seasons at Essendon before joining Hawthorn as its new head of development ahead of this season and is widely regarded as a podium assistant coach across the league right now. The 44-year-old was named the AFL Coaches’ Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year back in 2020, before being poached by Essendon for the following season with roles in the backline and midfield. His playing career stretched across 265 games career at the Western Bulldogs, and was a two-time leading goalkicker at the Kennel. Brendon Lade Similar to others on this extended list, Lade is a long-time coach-in-waiting. Currently the Western Bulldogs’ midfield coach after a stint at St Kilda, the 50-year-old was one of four candidates beaten to the punch for the Melbourne job by Steven King last year, as well as among those interviewed by Essendon in 2022 before the Bombers appointed Brad Scott. A former Port Adelaide best and fairest and two-time All-Australian, Lade played 234 games for the Power, winning a premiership in 2004. Adrian Hickmott The former Blues defender was seen as a consideration for Carlton during their preliminary discussions for a Michael Voss replacement. Having been in the AFL coaching game for over a decade, Hickmott has risen up the rankings during his tenure at Hawthorn and clearly aspires to be a senior coach one day. After a development coach stint at Essendon, Hickmott performed a variety of assistant coaching roles at West Coast over a decade — including working as the Eagles’ contested ball co-ordinator during the 2018 premiership season. He joined the Hawks ahead of the 2022 season, quickly building a reputation as an energetic and vocal member of the coaching panel. Speaking on SEN WA Breakfast last year, Hickmott said: “If the right opportunity comes up, yeah, I’d definitely look at it (becoming a head coach). I’ve had aspirations since I first retired in 2003, which is a long time ago now, but I’m very patient as well.” Shaun Grigg The 2017 Richmond premiership player is another in a long list of ‘coaches-in-waiting’. Grigg spent three seasons at the Cats, overseeing their midfield group in the 2022 premiership year, before being poached by then-new Suns coach Damien Hardwick in late 2023. He has now served under arguably the two best coaches of the modern era. And Scott is clearly a big fan of Grigg after bringing him on as an assistant for the Victorian team in State of Origin. He was also a favourite of Demons great Garry Lyon, who said at the time: “Unbelievable. He was the nuts-and-bolts man while (Scott and Mitchell) oversaw. And he was at Carlton initially (as a player).” Scott Burns The Adelaide assistant coach is a perennial ‘in the mix’ member when coaching vacancies open, such is his experience and expertise. Burns has been under Matthew Nicks for over five seasons at West Lakes, with notable experience at Hawthorn, Collingwood and West Coast across the last two decades. The 264-game Magpie is widely regarded as a tactically sound mentor who excels in working with developing lists, has previously expressed his desire to be a senior coach. Cameron Bruce The former two-club midfielder boasts one of the great CVs across the assistant coach industry. Bruce was Hawthorn’s midfield coach throughout Hawthorn’s three-peat of premierships between 2013 and 2015, and was the Blues’ forwards coach for two of his four years at Ikon Park. Most recently though, Bruce has been the Lions’ midfield coach since 2022, playing an integral role in the club’s success that has included back-to-back flags as Chris Fagan’s senior assistant coach. In 2025, Bruce won the AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year Award. Simon Goodwin A premiership coach with Melbourne just five years ago, the now-Sydney director of coaching performance must be a consideration. Particularly given what he’s been able to do with the Swans’ offence and ball movement, which has been well-documented. Goodwin was sacked as the Dees’ coach late last year — but after one of the great stints in the club’s history. A dual premiership Crow and five-time All-Australian, Goodwin led the Demons to a famous drought-breaking flag in 2021. That was after a whirlwind 2018 campaign where he took the Demons to an unlikely preliminary final appearance — and before back-to-back minor premierships in 2022 and 2023. While Goodwin was removed by the Dees late in the 2025 season, there were signs during that season that he’d turned Melbourne’s fortunes around. In fact, not even a month ago, new Demons coach Steven King credited Goodwin for laying the groundwork for the club’s current success. “Simon Goodwin was a great coach of this footy club … I’ve walked into a group that knows how to compete around the footy and defend.” In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald early in the year, Goodwin revealed “at some stage” he thinks the urge to be a senior coach again will return. Brett Montgomery After four years as an assistant coach at GWS, Montgomery’s departure from western Sydney was confirmed by the club last week as he seeks a return home closer to family. With family in South Australia, it seems unlikely on the surface that Montgomery would be at the front of the North Melbourne pack, but the ex-Dog and Power premiership player has been in the coaching game a long time. With notable stints at all of Carlton, Port Adelaide and the Giants, his wisdom nearly landed him the West Coast job in 2024 before being beaten by Andrew McQualter. Troy Chaplin The former Port Adelaide and Richmond key defender is the second-youngest of the contenders on this list at just 40 years of age. While he looks unlikely to rule the roost at Arden Street just yet, Chaplin was Melbourne’s interim coach for three games after the departure of Simon Goodwin last August. Chaplin later flagged he wouldn’t put his hand up for the Demons role that Steven King ultimately claimed, but did note he harbours aspirations to one day coach his own side.