BICKLEY will have the opportunity to audition for the role after being appointed as caretaker coach of Adelaide for the remainder of the season. The Crows' sole premiership captain played 272 games for the club between 1991-2003, and returned to West Lakes as an assistant coach at the end of 2008. As recently as last month, Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg said none of Craig's current assistant coaches were ready to assume the top job, but has already expressed a preference to promote from within if possible. Bickley will start at long odds to become Adelaide's sixth senior coach, but so did Craig when he replaced predecessor Gary Ayres midway through the 2004 season.
Odds: $2.40
Alastair Clarkson
The Hawthorn faithful won't like Clarkson being linked to the Crows, but he will continue to be so until the club - which has vowed to stick to its plan of delaying a decision on the coaching position until the end of the season - makes its intentions clear either way. Clarkson appears a long shot to leave the Hawks given the club's current success, but he's spent time in South Australia as coach of SANFL powerhouse Central District and is highly regarded in football circles.
Odds: $13.00
Simon Goodwin
The former Crows skipper has been mooted as a potential replacement for Craig since he retired and moved to Melbourne to become an assistant coach at Essendon. He's been given glowing endorsements from Bombers coach James Hird, former Geelong premiership coach Mark Thompson and even Adelaide's own chairman Rob Chapman, but is only in the first year of a three-year deal at Essendon. Ideally, Chapman and co. would prefer Goodwin to get another year or two of experience as an assistant before inevitably returning to take the top job at West Lakes.
Odds: $3.50
Nathan Bassett
Bassett has become a sought after prospect at AFL level since taking over as coach of SANFL club Norwood two years ago. The ex-Crows defender took the Redlegs to a Grand Final in his first season as coach, and oversaw the development of mature-age recruits Nick Duigan, Paul Puopolo and Nick Lower. He earns points for having coached in his own right, but his lack of experience in the coach's box at AFL level could count against him. A senior coaching career in the AFL beckons for Bassett, but maybe not next year.
Odds: $13.00
Brendan McCartney
McCartney was linked to senior coaching jobs at several AFL clubs, including Geelong where he spent 11 years an assistant coach before eventually joining Hird, Thompson and Goodwin as part of the coaching 'dream team' at Essendon. Experienced and well respected, especially for his development skills, which could prove invaluable to the young Adelaide squad.
Odds: Not quoted
Scott Burns
The South Australian ex-pat doesn't have the same amount of experience as McCartney, being only in the second year of his apprenticeship at West Coast, but is considered a senior coach in the making. He has been linked to an assistant coaching role at former club Collingwood, where ex-teammate Nathan Buckley will take the reins at the end of the season, but has expressed a desire in one day assuming a senior coaching position. Burns played 264 games with the Magpies after being drafted from Norwood.
Odds: $5.00
Mark Ricciuto
Like Goodwin, former skipper Ricciuto's legacy looms large. In his 312-game career, the club games record holder won three best and fairests, eight All Australian selections, a premiership and a Brownlow Medal and was revered by teammates and opponents alike for his leadership and discipline. However, despite the AFL Hall of Fame inductee's imposing record and indications he is willing to coach, Ricciuto himself has conceded that Goodwin has it over him in terms of experience.
Odds: $41.00
*Odds courtesy of Sportsbet
