{"id":105726,"date":"2025-08-30T02:32:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T02:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/105726\/"},"modified":"2025-08-30T02:32:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T02:32:09","slug":"melbourne-demons-cop-unexpected-rejection-amid-search-to-find-clubs-next-head-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/105726\/","title":{"rendered":"Melbourne Demons cop unexpected rejection amid search to find club’s next head coach"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Melbourne Demons have copped another slight setback in their search for the AFL club’s next head coach<\/a>, with Brisbane Lions football boss Danny Daly declining an offer to be involved in the process. Nathan Buckley is believed to be the favourite<\/a> to win the race to replace Simon Goodwin, but the Demons are undergoing a thorough process to find the right fit.<\/p>\n

They’ve assembled a seven-person panel<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\"Danny<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

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\u2019s offer to be part of the process to find Simon Goodwin\u2019s successor. The Demons reached out in recent days but Daly told them it\u2019s not the right time for him to pursue it.”<\/p>\n

Brisbane premiership football boss Danny Daly has declined Melbourne\u2019s offer to be part of the process to find Simon Goodwin\u2019s successor.
The Demons reached out in recent days but Daly told them it\u2019s not the right time for him to pursue it@7NewsMelbourne<\/a> @7NewsBrisbane<\/a> @7AFL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) August 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Danny Daly touted as AFL head coach in waiting<\/p>\n

Daly was recently touted as Chris Fagan\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know we wouldn\u2019t like to lose him, that\u2019s for sure, but if it was for something like that (a head-coaching role), I\u2019d be chairing him out of the place and saying ‘good luck and go well\u2019,\u201d the Brisbane coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s been a fantastic help to me from the day I arrived here at this football club, and we\u2019re like brothers I reckon.<\/p>\n

“We talk a lot about football, and I know he\u2019s got that capacity inside him to (be an AFL senior coach) if that\u2019s what he wants to do. That\u2019s completely up to Danny, and others who make those sorts of decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Danny<\/p>\n

Danny Daly is Brisbane’s head of football and highly-regarded in AFL circles. (Photo by Michael Willson\/AFL Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Daly replaced David Noble as Brisbane\u2019s head of football in November of 2020, having previously been the Lions\u2019 strategy coach. The Lions made the grand final in 2023 before going one better and winning the flag in 2024.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

Melbourne Demons have spoken to current AFL assistants<\/p>\n

Daly’s decision not to be involved comes after John Longmire, Adam Simpson and James Hird<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Brendon<\/p>\n

Brendon Lade addresses Western Bulldogs players during a game. (Photo by Michael Willson\/AFL Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

AFL<\/a> Media’s Josh Gabelich told SEN radio last week: \u201cMelbourne 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’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.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow 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\u2019ll 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.\u201d<\/p>\n