West Coast's hunt for a new list manager has reportedly narrowed to three leading contenders, with Richmond's head recruiter said to be the front-runner to replace the departed Rohan O'Brien.
O'Brien, a West Coast life member, announced his resignation from the role over the off-season, 33 years on from first joining the Eagles' recruitment team.
Helping shape lists that led to four premierships for the Western Australian club, O'Brien has left a sizeable void in the Eagles' talent identification and retention department ahead of a critical period for the Eagles.
Entering an era of transition with one of the youngest and most inexperienced squads in the competition, West Coast are said to have Richmond recruitment manager Matt Clarke as the leading name among their crop of list management candidates.
According toย The West Australian,ย Clarke is viewed as the early favourite to replace O'Brien, coming ahead of GWS recruiting manager Adrian Caruso and Adelaide recruiting strategist consultant Binuk Kodituwakku.
Clarke has close to 27 years of experience in AFL recruitment, having started his career with Melbourne in 1997 before crossing to Punt Road over a decade later.
Having spent 15 years with the Tigers, Clarke has overseen Richmond's list structure ahead of and during their recent three-premiership dynasty.
Caruso has spent a decade with GWS as a recruiter, while Kodituwakku shares his duties at the Crows with a role in recruiting at Duke University's college football program in the United States.
While O'Brien's deciding call to draft Harley Reid with the No.1 pick last November was one of the biggest in the long-serving list manager's tenure, his replacement will be tasked with retaining Reid beyond his 2026 deal and aiding the club's rebuild.
The Eagles are without 2025 deals for senior quartet Liam Duggan, Andrew Gaff, Bailey Williams and Elliot Yeo.
