In yet another blow to the West Coast Eagles' coaching search, leading assistant Ashley Hansen has withdrawn from consideration for the club's vacant role, opting to remain in Victoria for family reasons.
Hansen, a senior assistant at Carlton and a well-regarded member of West Coast's 2006 premiership team, was among the top contenders for the position alongside fellow premiership teammate Dean Cox.
Both have now declined to take part and their decisions underscore a mounting challenge for the Eagles as they seek to fill the position left by former coach Adam Simpson ahead of the upcoming preseason.
Hansen, 41, is primarily being driven by his desire to keep his young family settled in Melbourne, and he has expressed a commitment to build his coaching profile at Carlton under the leadership of Michael Voss.
Hansen's withdrawal adds him to a list of former Eagles and coaching hopefuls, including Fremantle's Jaymie Graham, Port Adelaide's Josh Carr, and Sydney's Dean Cox, who have all declined to pursue the opportunity.
The absence of interest from these candidates leaves the Eagles in a precarious position, remaining stuck in the AFL's bottom four, with just 10 wins from their last 66 matches and.
Suddenly interim coach Jarrad Schofield has shot up to be the leading candidate for the permanent role. Having taken over from Simpson earlier this season, he has guided the Eagles to consecutive victories, offering another glimmer of hope following their exciting run under Harley Reid earlier in the year.
His recent success has bolstered his chances of securing the full-time position, especially as the Eagles look to maintain their momentum against an injury-plagued Carlton side.
However, the Eagles are still not limiting their sights elsewere. They are conducting a national search for their next senior coach, with names such as Greater Western Sydney assistant Brett Montgomery, Essendon's Daniel Giansiracusa, and Collingwood's Hayden Skipworth still presenting.
West Coast CEO Don Pyke, who is spearheading the selection panel, is reportedly interested in experienced candidates, including Port Adelaide's Ken Hinkley, though his availability remains uncertain due to contractual obligations with the Power.
The repeated rejections from coaching candidates are becoming a troubling trend for the Eagles, as they struggle to attract top talent on and off the field to steer the club out of its current predicament.
As the club continue their search for a new head coach, the urgency to find a leader capable of navigating the team through its current struggles and rebuilding for the future becomes increasingly apparent. The appointment of a new coach, expected in September, will be a critical step in determining the trajectory of one of the AFL's wealthiest clubs.