Assistant coaches out of contract, Michael Voss, Justin Leppitsch, Corey Enright, Brenton Sanderson

There has by no means been extra uncertainty in assistant teaching circles.

The slashed comfortable cap coupled with an unclear COVID-19 panorama means greater than 25 assistants throughout the league are with out contracts for 2022.

Some are being instructed to attend, whereas others are joyful to take their time and assess accessible choices.

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Every membership is dealing with the present scenario otherwise. Brisbane has each assistant coach out of contract however GWS, Melbourne, the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne have all theirs locked in till the tip of 2022. West Coast is someplace in between.

Collingwood’s senior teaching emptiness and the potential for Carlton to sack David Teague solely will increase the chance of a turbocharged low season recreation of musical chairs amongst footy division employees.

Contemplating the highly-qualified coaches presently out of the system, the battle for jobs turns into even harder.

Justin Leppitsch has attracted the curiosity of a number of golf equipment, as has three-time premiership Cat James Kelly, who completed at Essendon to focus on household however is now able to return to the AFL.

Dean Solomon, who spent a decade at Gold Coast, is in an analogous boat to Leppitsch and Kelly.

If something, their absence has made the hearts of golf equipment develop fonder.

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THE BIG NAMES

Robert Harvey gained’t be getting Collingwood’s senior teaching job (there may be debate whether or not he even needs it) and his contract was aligned to Nathan Buckley’s, so he must win a brand new deal to remain on the Magpies.

It’s understood Adam Simpson is a giant fan of the two-time Brownlow Medallist, whose future on the membership could hinge on Buckley’s eventual successor. However would Harvey transfer his household to Perth to take a job on the Eagles? It’s a giant ask.

Colleague Brenton Sanderson can also be and not using a deal for 2022 and has been shifted to take care of the defenders since Buckley departed.

At Hawthorn, Chris Newman has been answerable for the backline in 2021 however doesn’t have a contract for subsequent yr. Richmond is conserving a detailed eye on him, although Sam Mitchell could be eager to maintain Newman on the Hawks. The 2 have cast a detailed bond in current seasons.

Brendon Bolton’s future at Waverley Park can also be unclear past Alastair Clarkson’s tenure. He’s contracted, however sources are unsure whether or not there’s a position for him in Mitchell’s teaching set-up. The Demons had been eager on the ex-Carlton coach on the finish of 2019 however he determined to return to the protection of Hawthorn. Melbourne employed Alan Richardson on a long-term deal as a substitute, who’s now its footy boss.

Geelong’s Matthew Knights and Corey Enright are additionally out of contract because the membership waits on particulars on the comfortable cap.

Knights has been on the membership since 2012, whereas Enright has been an assistant because the finish of 2016 following a adorned taking part in profession.

Port Adelaide’s Michael Voss has been Ken Hinkley’s right-hand-man for the previous two seasons and was interviewed for the main Collingwood job on Saturday.

Out of contract at season’s finish, it’s understood the Brisbane Lions nice is contemplating shifting away from teaching altogether if he misses out on the Magpies.

That might enable Port to raise Brett Montgomery – who’s contracted for 2022 – or go to the marketplace for another person.

THE NEXT RUNG

The time might be proper for St Kilda and Aaron Hamill to half methods. The previous captain has obtained not less than preliminary curiosity from Carlton, the place he additionally performed earlier than crossing to Moorabbin.

However will his reported assembly with Brad Lloyd imply something if he’s not at Ikon Park?

Colleagues Ben McGlynn and Adam Skrobalak additionally don’t have offers for 2022 but.

Skrobalak by no means performed AFL however has held quite a lot of roles on the Saints. He began with the rucks and has since coached forwards, midfielders and even his personal VFL workforce.

Josh Francou wasn’t a fan of Adelaide’s coaching camp, which was a part of the explanation he left mid-contract to hitch Gold Coast. Now the 46-year-old is departing the Suns on the finish of the season and heading again to South Australia. May Port Energy come calling? It could make sense if Voss’ exit creates a emptiness.

Carlton’s Brent Stanton and Dale Amos are in limbo because the board completes its soccer division overview, as are Adelaide improvement coaches Brent Reilly, Matthew Wright and SANFL coach Mick Godden.

BRISBANE’S CONUNDRUM

The heightened stage of uncertainty in membership land is epitomised at Brisbane, which has only one coach locked in past this yr: Chris Fagan (2023).

Dale Tapping (midfield), Jed Adcock (forwards), Murray Davis (backline), Ben Hudson (ruck and midfield), Mark Stone (technique), Scott Borlace (head of improvement) and Mitch Hahn (VFL) are all both ready on the membership or have the membership ready on them.

Tapping has been spoken to by Collingwood. He stays an outsider for the senior teaching job nevertheless it’s not past the realms of risk that he could possibly be on the Magpies subsequent yr as an assistant.

Collingwood gamers and employees liked Tapping when he was on the membership, teaching the VFL workforce to a flag in 2016 and incomes coach of the yr honours. He has been on the Lions ever since.

For Lions footy boss Danny Daly and CEO Greg Swann, there may be a lot to think about forward of the 2022 season. Whereas the taking part in checklist is prone to be a lot the identical, there could possibly be important teaching adjustments beneath Fagan.

WHAT THE AFL COACHES’ ASSOCIATION SAYS

D-Day is quick approaching for almost all of aforementioned coaches.

Their contracts end on October 31, however they may know their plans for 2022 lengthy earlier than then in the event that they comply with AFLCA recommendation.

At this stage of the season, the AFLCA is encouraging coaches and golf equipment to interact on plans for subsequent yr.

In different phrases, if coaches don’t have a gig for 2022 by subsequent week, they need to begin wanting or search readability with their present employers.

It’s a brutal trade. Much more so now.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

The departure of Buckley has already created a small ripple impact. Another sackings will set off a big domino impact across the league as golf equipment scramble for the perfect accessible coaches.

Covid solely exacerbates the uncertainty. Large cash presents are a factor of the previous. And whereas being a coach on six figures feels like a dream gig, the shortage of safety is a priority for the AFLCA within the present atmosphere.

For Melbourne, Sydney, GWS, the Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne and Essendon, they may sit again and watch on as the opposite 12 golf equipment get busy.