Verdict on ‘big four’ coaches for potential openings; great’s contract advice to free agent — AFL Daily

Which of the ‘big four’ coaches should be the number one target for clubs with potential vacancies?

Plus a great’s advice to a rising Bulldogs free agent. MORE IN AFL DAILY.

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WHICH OF COACHING ‘BIG FOUR’ CLUBS SHOULD TARGET

Nathan Buckley, Ken Hinkley, Adam Simpson or John Longmire?

If the Carlton or Essendon job became available at the end of the season, which of the ‘big four’ coaches on the market should those clubs target?

The spectre of some big names could appeal to those clubs as Brad Scott and Michael Voss come under pressure just a few games into the 2026 season.

For dual premiership Kangaroo David King, Longmire’s record speaks for itself.

The former Swans coach led the club to 28 finals — ranked 11th all-time —from 2011 to 2024, missing September just twice over that 14-year tenure and delivering flag glory in 2013.

Longmire’s total win percentage of 62.9 from 333 games ranks top 10 all-time among coaches who’ve coached at least 100 matches.

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“When you look at John Longmire’s record, he’s coached in 28 finals,” King said on Fox Footy.

“They were virtually bulletproof for (14 years). So you’d have to say John Longmire.

“They had great standards and a great ethos and mantra: ‘This is who we are. You either conform, or you’re out’.

“They had high performing lists, I’m not sure they had the best list every time.”

Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall, who appointed Hawks coaching great Alastair Clarkson ahead of the club’s golden era in the 2010s, thinks it should come down to the vision those candidates had.

“Until you talk to them, you don’t know. You’d want to know what their plans for the club are,” he said.

“Because whoever takes either of those jobs, should they become available, has got a hell of a job to do.

“You’d want to know what sort of blueprint they had.

“It’s more what are you going to bring to that role? What are you going to do to the football club to transform it from where it’s been?

“Because they’re both stuck in the mire at the moment.”

BUKU URGED TO HOLD OFF CONTRACT TALKS

Don’t rush your contract call, Buku.

That’s the advice of Hawks champion Jason Dunstall to free agent Buku Khamis as the rising Bulldogs defender continues to add dollars to his new deal for 2027.

Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph has already estimated Khamis’ new deal could be worth as much as $800,000 per season.

Set to come out of contract at season’s end, Khamis has been one of the most improved players in the competition in 2026.

The 26-year old has held Brisbane’s Cam Rayner, Giants duo Jesse Hogan and Jake Stringer and Adelaide’s Luke Pedlar to a combined three marks and one goal in his minutes matched up on the quartet, according to Champion Data.

And played a key role in the undefeated Bulldogs’ improved defence through three games.

It comes after Khamis was denied his trade request to Carlton in the off-season, with a deal not eventuating due to how much the Blues had on their plate during an active exchange window.

With the biggest payday of Khamis’ career looming, Dunstall implored the out-of-contract gun to hold off on talks.

“I’d be in no hurry to sign, that’s for sure,” Dunstall said on Fox Footy.

“While he continues to play good footy, the offers will come.

“You look very attractive, you show the club what you can do. Don’t rush in, they’ll keep coming back to you.

“I wouldn’t be in a hurry at all.

“It’s a players’ market at the moment, isn’t it? You can really dictate the way you want things to pan out.”

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