MATTHEW Primus's coaching career at Port Adelaide came to an ignominious end - the axe falling after Saturday's humiliating loss to Greater Western Sydney. Here, AFL.com.au looks at the leading candidates to replace Primus at Alberton.

Garry Hocking
Appointed as interim coach after Matthew Primus was told he would not be coaching next season, Hocking has four matches in which to prove his credentials. He has been with the Power as an assistant since 2010 after coaching the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup. Primus won the full-time coaching position after replacing Mark Williams with seven matches to go in 2010 and winning five of them. The ball is in Hocking's court.

Scott Burns
Highly rated West Coast assistant who has been spoken of as a future senior coach. Was considered a strong chance of landing both the Adelaide and Melbourne coaching jobs last year before they were given to Brenton Sanderson and Mark Neeld respectively. His South Australian origins may appeal to the Power.

Nathan Bassett
Has the advantage of already coaching a team at a high level, guiding SANFL club Norwood to the 2010 Grand Final and a 2011 top-three finish. The Redlegs sit on top of the ladder this season with only one loss after 16 games and Bassett is known to have higher coaching ambitions. Said to have a left of centre, yet detailed coaching philosophy.
 
Shaun Rehn
Another candidate with head coaching experience, having taken West Adelaide to the 2003 SANFL Grand Final in a three-year stint. Was an assistant under Leigh Matthews at the Brisbane Lions and is an assistant at the Power. Was thought to be the likely interim replacement for Primus until Garry Hocking was given the reins.
 
Simon Goodwin
Few assistant coaches with less than two years experience in the box have had higher wraps than Bombers assistant Goodwin, who was another strong candidate for the Crows' senior position last year. He ruled himself out of that race, saying he may look at a senior role 'down the track'. Whether 12 months is a long enough time down the track is a question only Goodwin can answer.
 
Dean Laidley
Has experience with the Power, having served as a Melbourne-based assistant under Primus and before him Mark Williams. Known as an astute tactician in his days as North Melbourne coach and now as a senior assistant to St Kilda's Scott Watters, Laidley has shown a reluctance to move to Adelaide and may also have no interest in returning to the spotlight that comes with a senior coaching role.

Rodney Eade
It is hard to imagine why Eade would want the job, given he seems very happy with his low-pressure role as director of coaching at Collingwood. But the 54-year-old is a competitive man, and he has a great record of turning around under-performing teams. He took the Sydney Swans to a Grand Final in his first year at the club, then led the Western Bulldogs from the lower rungs of the ladder to three consecutive preliminary finals.

Leon Cameron
A former Western Bulldogs and Richmond player who is an assistant coach at Hawthorn, Cameron was seen a certainty to land the top job at the Dogs late last year, only to be overlooked for Brendan McCartney. Renowned as a having a great football brain, the 39-year-old has learned plenty about building a winning culture from his time at the Hawks.

Mark Bickley
A two-time Adelaide premiership captain who is now working as an assistant coach at the Crows, Bickley doesn't have to worry about relocating his family to take on the job. The 42-year-old also has previous senior coaching experience at the highest level after guiding Adelaide for six games last year - the Crows won three - after Neil Craig stood down. But could the Power stomach the idea of appointing a favourite son of the Crows?

Ken Hinkley
A former Fitzroy and Geelong player, Hinkley is now an assistant coach at Gold Coast. The 45-year-old has unsuccessfully applied for the senior jobs at Richmond and Geelong in recent years, but he is expected to try his luck again this time. Regarded as being a key part of Geelong's transformation from also-ran to superpower, Hinkley has learned plenty about dealing with experienced players and youngsters during his time with the Cats and the Suns.

Paul Roos/Mick Malthouse
It is highly unlikely that Roos or Malthouse would want to move to Adelaide, but they are, of course, eminently qualified for the job. Both premiership coaches, they will surely field calls from the Power, even if they don't show any interest in the role.