The Melbourne Demons have copped another slight setback in their search for the AFL club’s next head coach, with Brisbane Lions football boss Danny Daly declining an offer to be involved in the process. Nathan Buckley is believed to be the favourite to win the race to replace Simon Goodwin, but the Demons are undergoing a thorough process to find the right fit.
They’ve assembled a seven-person panel to make the decision, including club president Brad Green, director Steve Smith, incoming CEO Paul Guerra and GM of AFL Football Performance Alan Richardson. The other three are Essendon great Jobe Watson, Melbourne Storm GM Frank Ponissi and HR executive Meahan Callaghan.
Danny Daly (far left) has declined an offer to be involved, while Nathan Buckley (R) is still believed to be the front-runner to become Melbourne Demons coach. Image: Getty
But according to leading journalist Mitch Cleary, the Demons also approached Daly about being involved in the process. Cleary wrote on social media on Friday: “Brisbane premiership football boss Danny Daly has declined Melbourne’s offer to be part of the process to find Simon Goodwin’s successor. The Demons reached out in recent days but Daly told them it’s not the right time for him to pursue it.”
Brisbane premiership football boss Danny Daly has declined Melbourne’s offer to be part of the process to find Simon Goodwin’s successor.
The Demons reached out in recent days but Daly told them it’s not the right time for him to pursue it@7NewsMelbourne @7NewsBrisbane @7AFL
— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) August 29, 2025
Danny Daly touted as AFL head coach in waiting
Daly was recently touted as Chris Fagan’s eventual successor at the Lions, having long been considered an AFL senior coach-in-waiting throughout an extensive career with Collingwood, North Melbourne, Richmond and Brisbane. Speaking earlier this month, Fagan said Daly would be a huge loss if he left the Lions.
“I know we wouldn’t like to lose him, that’s for sure, but if it was for something like that (a head-coaching role), I’d be chairing him out of the place and saying ‘good luck and go well’,” the Brisbane coach said. “He’s been a fantastic help to me from the day I arrived here at this football club, and we’re like brothers I reckon.
“We talk a lot about football, and I know he’s got that capacity inside him to (be an AFL senior coach) if that’s what he wants to do. That’s completely up to Danny, and others who make those sorts of decisions.”
Danny Daly is Brisbane’s head of football and highly-regarded in AFL circles. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Daly replaced David Noble as Brisbane’s head of football in November of 2020, having previously been the Lions’ strategy coach. The Lions made the grand final in 2023 before going one better and winning the flag in 2024.
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Daly’s decision not to be involved comes after John Longmire, Adam Simpson and James Hird all declared they’re not interested in the Melbourne job. Demons officials have reportedly met with ‘up to 15 coaches’, with former Collingwood mentor Buckley at the top of the pile.
The names being floated around include assistant coaches at the Western Bulldogs (Brendon Lade), Hawthorn (David Hale) and Geelong (James Kelly). Melbourne CEO Guerra stated the club hopes to make a call on its new head coach in grand final week before the AFL trade period kicks into gear.
Brendon Lade addresses Western Bulldogs players during a game. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich told SEN radio last week: “Melbourne is currently finalising its shortlist for its next senior coach this week. They’ve met with a wide range of coaches over the past fortnight. All informal speed dates, such as coffee catch-ups.
“I’m told that up to 15 coaches they’ve met with. So, they have cast the net far and wide. Three names I can bring you (are) Brendon Lade, the midfield coach at the Western Bulldogs. David Hale, the Hawthorn midfield coach, and Geelong assistant James Kelly.
“Now clearly, Nathan Buckley is the front-runner, but they are going to run a full process here. They expect the shortlist to be six to eight names that will be finalised in the next couple of days, and they’ll get going on that because they still aim to have a senior coach in place by grand final week because of how important the trade period is. But they are casting the net far and wide.”