BY THE end of 2016 Paul Roos will no longer be coaching Melbourne.
History suggests he won't be the only senior coach replaced before then.
With every club having contracted a coach for 2015 however nothing might happen at the end of this season.
But eventually a vacancy will open up.
So AFL.com.au has scanned the field to find the leading candidates to be the game's next senior coaches.
It's poked and prodded and asked and delved and come up a list of names that clubs will discuss in future years.
And it comes with a warning: appointing a senior coach is the most important decision an AFL club can make.
Mark Bickley
Age: 44
Player: 272 games, 1991-2003, Adelaide (premierships: two)
Assistant coach: Adelaide*
The dual premiership captain at the Crows coached Adelaide for six matches in 2011 after Neil Craig resigned. He was overlooked for the senior position at the club when Brenton Sanderson was appointed but he is now the senior assistant. Has dealt with a public profile his whole career and is as at home in a corporate setting as a football setting. Bickley has a great reputation as a people person, manages the media well and has a good eye for the game. He is also a natural leader, winning the captaincy under Malcolm Blight in 1997 because of his leadership abilities rather than his natural talent. Only knock on him would be his lack of work experience at a club other than Adelaide.
Luke Beveridge
Age: 43
Player: 118 games, Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, St Kilda
Assistant coach: Collingwood, Hawthorn*
Signed 11 one-year contracts in 11 seasons as a player with Melbourne, the Bulldogs and St Kilda before becoming the first person in VAFA history to coach a team from a C-Grade to A-Grade premiership in three seasons, when he took St Bede's Mentone to three flags between 2006 and 2008. Left a management position in taxation to join Collingwood as a development coach in 2009, being at the Magpies during its 2010 premiership. Went back to 'the real world' in 2011 before Hawthorn knocked. The Hawks reached Grand Finals in both years for one premiership, with Beveridge as an assistant coach. A good people person he has his own opinions and is happy to think differently.
Luke Beveridge joined Hawthorn as an assistant coach in 2012. Picture: AFL Media
Brett Montgomery
Age: 40
Player: 204 games, 1997-2007, Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide (premierships: one)
Assistant coach: Carlton, Western Bulldogs*
A premiership player with Port Adelaide, he was an assistant coach at Carlton between 2008-2010 before returning to the Western Bulldogs where he played 78 games in two stints. He played under Terry Wallace, Mark Williams and Rodney Eade and has coached alongside Brett Ratten, Eade and now Brendan McCartney. The Blues averaged 16 points a game fewer in 2010 then they did in Montgomery's first season in 2008.
Scott Burns
Age: 39
Player: 264 games, 1995-2008, Collingwood
Assistant coach: West Coast Eagles, Collingwood*
Has been touted as a senior coach in waiting for a while now but has only been in the business since joining West Coast as an assistant in 2009. Burns moved back to Victoria this year to coach Collingwood's midfield. Known as a straight-shooter he was Collingwood captain in his final season and is a long-time fan favourite at the Magpies. A no-fuss type he knows he still needs to develop before being ready for senior coaching.
Simon Goodwin
Age: 37
Player: 275 games, 1997-2010, Adelaide
Assistant coach: Essendon*
He is the senior assistant coach at Essendon in his fourth year at the club after a brilliant playing career with Adelaide. Played in two premierships at the beginning of his 275-game career before the three best and fairests and 76 games as skipper. He interviewed for the Lions job last season and has been unfortunate to be at Essendon during a tough period for the club. However he has shown resilience throughout.
Brett Montgomery (left) during his time as assistant coach at Carlton under Brett Ratten. Picture: AFL Media
Garry Hocking
Age: 45
Player: 274 games, 1987-2001, Geelong
Assistant coach: Port Adelaide, coaching Port Adelaide Magpies*
Has done some hard yards since his brilliant playing career ended 13 years ago being a coach and assistant coach at North Ballarat, Western Jets, Peel Thunder and Geelong Falcons before joining the AFL system as an assistant coach at Port Adelaide. Will benefit from coaching Port Adelaide Magpies to round off that experience.
Robert Harvey
Age: 42
Player: 383 games, 1988-2008, St Kilda
Assistant coach: Carlton, St Kilda, Collingwood*
Has developed a varied resume with assistant coaching gigs at Carlton, St Kilda, and now Collingwood where he is a senior assistant at the Magpies alongside Nathan Buckley. Has taken time to develop confidence in the role and probably needs to coach his own team at some stage to really stake a claim as a senior coach.
*Current club
Robert Harvey has been an assistant coach at Collingwood since 2012. Picture: AFL Media
YOUNG GUNS
Brendon Bolton
Age: 35
Now: Assistant coach at Hawthorn
Built his resumé taking North Hobart to the 2005 premiership as a playing coach, before coaching the Tassie Mariners at just 26 and then led Clarence to a preliminary final in 2008. He impressed Hawthorn when given the opportunity to spend a week observing them and was subsequently appointed coach of the Box Hill Hawks. He led the club into consecutive finals series in 2009 and 2010 before Hawthorn made him midfield coach. Upon his promotion Box Hill president John Ure paid tribute to him, saying his strength was to "create a positive environment so that the AFL-listed players actually enjoyed playing at Box Hill."
John Barker
Age: 39
Now: Assistant coach at Carlton
Recognition for Barker's abilities continues to grow and he is said to have strong people skills. Has coached alongside Ross Lyon, Alastair Clarkson and Mick Malthouse so is capable under three people who don't suffer fools but support those who win their respect.
Brendon Bolton captain-coached North Hobart to a premiership at age 24. Picture: AFL Media
Michael O'Loughlin
Age: 37
Now: Sydney Swans' Academy
Has gained experience through the AFL system and coached the Indigenous All-Stars and International Rules teams. Has moved to a development role and if he makes the decision he wants to be a senior coach he has the ability to make progress in that direction.
Blake Caracella
Age: 37
Now: Assistant coach at Geelong
Retired from playing in 2006 due to injury after two premierships in 187 games with three clubs. Collingwood offered him a job on the coaching panel and he excelled at the Magpies in different roles from 2007-2009 before joining Geelong to work under mentor Mark Thompson. Adapted well when Chris Scott arrived, as the Cats re-invented themselves to win the premiership. He has a strong football brain, challenges conventional thinking and works closely with Scott on match-day.
Adam Kingsley
Age: 38
Now: Assistant coach at St Kilda
Impresses good judges at the Saints with his organised approach and has held his nerve under three coaches at St Kilda since joining the club in 2011. Played in a premiership with Port Adelaide and won a best and fairest before being an assistant coach there for four years.
Tim Clarke
Age: 32
Now: Richmond VFL coach
Raised in discussions as one to watch, the fitness fanatic is a popular figure at the Tigers. He played 96 games at the Hawks between 2001-2008 and then spent two years as a development coach at Richmond. Travelled before returning to coach Coburg last season. He managed this difficult assignment well and is now coaching in the VFL.
Tim Clarke coaching Richmond's VFL side this year. Picture: AFL Media
James McDonald
Age: 37
Now: Assistant coach at Greater Western Sydney
McDonald proved a leader of men as a player and has started his coaching career in a tough environment. The former Melbourne skipper is not one to put himself in the public spotlight but he shapes as a players' coach with a fierce team first attitude.
Brendon Lade
Age: 37
Now: Richmond midfield coach
Ruckmen don't have great records as coaches but Lade has impressed. He has been at the Tigers since 2010 and built a good rapport with the players. A knockabout personality, he is a leader who knows when to switch on and off.
Matthew Nicks
Age: 38
Now: Port Adelaide defensive coach
Was an underrated player under Paul Roos and Rodney Eade at the Sydney Swans. Although the club made the Grand Final in his first and last season, he played in neither game. Moved on to coaching his own team in Sydney before taking up a role at Port Adelaide. Great rapport with the players and speaks well. Has the makings of a senior coach.
NEED EXPERIENCE AS ASSISTANTS
Cameron Ling (former Geelong Captain in media)
Lenny Hayes (St Kilda star still playing)
Daniel Giansiracusa (Western Bulldogs forward still playing)
FORMER SENIOR COACHES
John Worsfold (Enjoying time away from coalface)
Brett Ratten (At Hawthorn looking to improve)
Matthew Knights (Seems to have found niche at Geelong)
On the radar
Dean Solomon (Gold Coast Suns), Stuart Dew (Sydney Swans), Brett Kirk (Fremantle), Jade Rawlings (Melbourne), Ben Mathews (Melbourne), Simon McPhee (St Kilda), Peter Sumich (Fremantle), Leigh Tudor (North Melbourne)
