Carlton will soon commence its process of finding a new senior coach after five-year mentor Michael Voss parted ways with the club on Tuesday.
Foxfooty.com.au profiles 23 candidates — including experienced senior coaches and burgeoning assistants ready to take the next step — the Blues should consider as part of their search.
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MORE COVERAGE:
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Ken Hinkley
The 13-year Port Adelaide mentor is one of the most sought-after names on the market, and if the Blues want him, they appear to face an uphill battle. That’s because, according to veteran journalist Caroline Wilson, Hinkley is the current favourite to win the vacant Tasmania job, declaring on Monday night: “If I had to call it tonight, I’d say that Ken Hinkley would be the inaugural coach of the Tasmania Devils.” Hinkley led the Power to seven finals campaigns, including four preliminary final berths but no grand final appearances.
Adam Simpson
The West Coast premiership coach has been relentlessly questioned over his desire to not only coach again in the AFL, but coach Carlton, seeing as he’s currently serving in a consultancy role overseeing coach development at the Blues. He has repeatedly said that he’s never intended to coach the club, but Tuesday morning’s events might start to change that. If he did desire to enter the running, it would almost certainly be an awkward situation, given that Simpson has worked closely with Voss this year in helping him improve as a mentor. But the 50-year-old has settled nicely into media roles with Fox Footy and SEN, so he may wish to stay on the outskirts.
Nathan Buckley
He certainly wouldn’t be the first former Collingwood coach to defect to Carlton. Buckley hasn’t been shy in his desire to get back into the coaching ranks, joining Chris Scott’s glittering Geelong panel after narrowly missing out on the Melbourne job last year. Buckley has also been strongly linked to Tasmania’s vacancy, and remains in the running for that job despite Hinkley’s favouritism, according to Caroline Wilson. Buckley, a 280-game player, Brownlow medallist, Norm Smith medallist and seven-time All-Australian, coached the Magpies for 10 seasons, including a grand final appearance in 2018. He is now five years removed from his last game coaching Collingwood.
John Longmire
You get the sense Longmire would be a popular request among Blues fans. One of the most respected coaches of the century, Longmire would be an excellent candidate if the Blues believed they needed a premiership coach to take an already-established list to the next level. Although many would say Carlton needs to tear up its list to give it the best chance of winning a flag in the medium to long-term, so whether Longmire would be prepared to endure short-term pain remains to be seen. Longmire’s path to coaching is well-documented. A Coleman Medallist and North Melbourne premiership star, Longmire transitioned to coaching and took over from Paul Roos at Sydney at the end of the 2010 season. What followed was 14 years of sustained success, including the 2012 premiership and five Grand Final appearances. Remarkably, the Swans made finals in 12 of the 14 seasons under Longmire’s leadership before he handed the coaching reins to assistant Dean Cox in late 2024. Longmire remains at Sydney as executive director of club performance, but that won’t stop Carlton putting in a call – if it wants him – to a man who left the Swans coaching role with a record that’s the envy of most of AFL counterparts.
James Kelly
The former Geelong star and now-assistant was one of four candidates beaten to the Melbourne job by Steven King last year, demonstrating just how close he was to landing a role after honing his craft under arguably the competition’s best mentor since 2022. The Blues would be wise to seriously consider Kelly, who, after playing under Scott for five seasons – including the 2011 premiership – joined his staff after previously serving as an assistant at Essendon.
Hayden Skipworth
The highly-rated Collingwood assistant has long been considered a head coach-in-waiting, having been shortlisted 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. He said in November 2024: “It was a win-win for me. I was either going to be a senior coach at West Coast or coming back to a great club. It was a good experience to get through. I’ve come to that stage in my career where I need to put my hand up for some of these positions. I feel like I’m ready to go now.” Skipworth started at Collingwood in 2019 as its head of academy, before quickly being promoted to the senior coaching panel.
Ash Hansen
Hansen is Carlton’s senior assistant, and interestingly wasn’t named as the Blues’ interim boss – having served as head coach for one game back in 2022 when Voss was sick. The 2006 West Coast premiership player opted not to pursue the vacant Eagles position in 2024, choosing to remain in Victoria for family reasons. This season, in his fifth year at the Blues, Hansen has been in charge of the club’s defence after previously manning the forwards – enhancing his skillset as he likely prepares to put his hand up for senior vacancies. Before joining Carlton, Hansen spent nine years at the Western Bulldogs, as well as coaching Footscray to the 2016 premiership, leading to his promotion to the club’s senior coaching staff. 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
It would come as a shock to some if Brisbane’s football boss landed Carlton’s coaching gig, but popular footy figure Daly has long been linked to coaching roles, having held discussions with Melbourne last year prior to opting out. Daly joined Brisbane in late 2014, serving six seasons on the Lions’ coaching panel – including four as head of strategy and Chris Fagan’s sidekick – before being promoted to general manager of football in late 2020, where he has played a significant role in Brisbane’s back-to-back premiership triumphs. SEN’s Tom Morris said on Tuesday: “Danny Daly is a highly-regarded football figure … I think he still harbours some aspirations to coach.” AFL 360 co-host Garry Lyon added: “He is a brilliant football person. He understands every aspect of the game, every aspect of clubland … I don’t think the Chris Fagan experience is going to work against him.”
James Hird
Arguably the most left-field option on this list, Hird, who narrowly missed out on a second chance at Essendon, is at least a chance to be sounded out for the Blues role. Bombers legend Tim Watson said on SEN on Tuesday: “I would ask the question of him – whether or not he wants to coach anyone other than Essendon. I would definitely ask the question.” Hird is now 11 years removed from his Essendon resignation, having since briefly served at the Giants in 2022, and taken up a director of coaching role at Port Melbourne – where his son, Tom, plays his footy. His role with Borough suggests that Hird at least maintains an interest in coaching.
Brendon Lade
Another of the long-time coaches-in-waiting, Lade is currently the Western Bulldogs’ midfield coach after a stint at St Kilda. In an indication of how close he’s gotten in the past, he 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 landed on 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 has been in the AFL coaching game for over a decade but has risen up the rankings during his Hawthorn tenure – 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. Crucially, Hickmott was the Eagles’ contested ball coordinator 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. Asked about his senior coaching dreams on SEN WA Breakfast last year, Hickmott said: “If the right opportunity comes up, yeah, I’d definitely look at it. I’ve had aspirations since I first retired in 2003, which is a long time ago now. But I’m very patient as well. I was in a rush when I first started coaching, and as you mature in age and pick up a lot of different things and mentors throughout that time, I’ve become very patient.”
Daniel Giansiracusa
Giansiracusa was one of the shortlisted candidates beaten to the Melbourne job by Steven King last year, widely considered a future coach continuing to build experience in the ranks. The former Bulldog had spent the previous six seasons at Essendon before joining Hawthorn as its new head of development ahead of this season. It’s a role that Hawks coach Sam Mitchell performed in 2021, before succeeding Alastair Clarkson the following year, in a sign of Giansiracusa’s intentions. After a 265-game career at the Western Bulldogs, Giansiracusa, from 2015, coached the forwards, stoppages, opposition analysis, and then Footscray in 2019, before moving to the Bombers in 2021. There, he held roles in the backline and midfield.
Shaun Grigg
A favourite of Fox Footy commentator Garry Lyon, who couldn’t have been more impressed by the premiership Tiger during Victoria’s Origin campaign earlier this season. Lyon said of Grigg on SEN Breakfast: “Unbelievable. He was the nuts-and-bolts man while (Scott and Mitchell) oversaw. And he was at Carlton initially (as a player).” Grigg has already served an impressive apprenticeship, spending four seasons at Geelong under Chris Scott – including overseeing the Cats’ midfield group in their 2022 premiership season – before being poached by then-new Suns coach Damien Hardwick in late 2023.
Corey Enright
While Enright, one of the competition’s best assistants, would be an appealing option for the Blues, the three-time Geelong premiership champion has been dubbed St Kilda’s next coach-in-waiting. Enright currently serves as the club’s head of strategy and game plan after joining in 2021 as a defensive assistant, and it was revealed last year that he had been unofficially earmarked as Ross Lyon’s long-term successor. The former star Cats backman was one of the many names in contention for Melbourne’s vacant position last year, before withdrawing his name to remain at Moorabbin.
David Hale
Like Hickmott, Hale’s reputation has grown while working with Sam Mitchell at Hawthorn. A triple premiership Hawthorn ruck, Hale moved straight into coaching after retiring, joining Fremantle for six seasons as an assistant. He then returned to the Hawks just months after 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.
Josh Fraser
Fraser was named the Blues’ interim coach after Voss’ resignation was announced on Tuesday, but he doesn’t figure to be a serious permanent consideration post-Voss – despite Carlton having hired then-interim coach David Teague in 2019. The 200-game Collingwood ruckman rejoined Carlton at the start of last season after previously having served as a development coach and the Northern Blues senior coach. He had spent three years at the Magpies as their VFL senior coach and head of development.
Daniel Pratt
The 2024 AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year, Pratt is widely considered a senior coach-in-waiting. After 119 games with North Melbourne and Brisbane, Pratt linked up with ex-teammate Adam Simpson at West Coast as a development coach. He 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.
Jaymie Graham
A former West Coast forward, Graham is a highly-rated assistant from Western Australia. He’s had stints at St Kilda, West Coast and Fremantle – currently at the latter as part of Justin Longmuir’s coaching staff – and has even filled in the senior role at both jobs. He’s previously been in the running for several coaching jobs – the Eagles were very keen in late 2024 when looking for a replacement for Adam Simpson, but Graham pulled out of the race – and is touted as having the potential to be a future senior coach.
Scott Burns
A perennial ‘in the mix’ member when coaching vacancies open. Burns has been at Adelaide under Matthew Nicks for over five seasons, having joined the fray at West Lakes prior to the 2021 season. The former Collingwood midfielder completed an assistant stint at West Coast between 2008 and 2013. Burns also served at Collingwood (2014-2017) and Hawthorn (2018-2022). The 264-gamer, who’s 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
Another former Blues assistant, Bruce has one of the great CVs of all gun assistant coaches in the industry. He was Hawthorn’s midfield coach throughout Hawthorn’s three-peat of premierships between 2013 and 2015. He was the Blues’ forwards coach for two seasons (2020 and 2021) as part of his four-year stint at the club, where he was also a senior assistant. Most recently, 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 well as a Grand Final appearance. He’s currently Chris Fagan’s senior assistant coach – and is coming off a 2025 campaign where he won the AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year Award. He has to be a strong contender.
Brett Montgomery
A full circle moment? The ex-Dog and Power premiership player has been in the coaching game a long time. Montgomery became an assistant coach at Carlton in 2007, working as a defensive coach. In 2010, he arrived at the Bulldogs and then, at the end of 2016, made the move to Port Adelaide, again working on the defence. But it’s at the Giants where Montgomery’s stocks have risen, leading to him being an early contender for the then-vacant Eagles role in 2024 that was eventually won by Andrew McQualter. Giants coach Adam Kingsley then said of Montgomery: “He’s a great teacher, he builds connections with all his players, they all love him. But he also educates them and holds them accountable.” A best and fairest winner for Port Adelaide in his first season at the club and part of the 2004 premiership side, could Montgomery, 19 years later, end up at the same club he started his coaching career at?
Simon Goodwin
Too soon? Maybe, maybe not. Nonetheless, whenever a premiership coach is on the market, a club must consider putting in a call. Goodwin was sacked as Melbourne 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, some would say Goodwin laid the foundations for the Demons’ exciting new-look style under Steven King this year. Goodwin wasn’t out of a job for long, with Sydney quickly appointing him the club’s director of coaching and performance. And his impact on Sydney’s breathtaking high-handball game has been widely lauded, with the top-of-the-ladder Swans ranked a clear first for points scored this season.
Troy Chaplin
Chaplin served as the Dees’ interim coach after sacking Simon Goodwin last year – going winless across three games – and while he flagged at the time he wouldn’t put his hand up for that role permanently, he said he harboured aspirations to one day coach his own side. Chaplin is contracted at the Demons for 2026 and is working closely with Steven King in his first year at the helm.
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