Essendon's search for a new coach has officially begun following the sacking of Ben Rutten on Sunday afternoon, with the former Bombers coach having spent just two seasons in the top job at Tullamarine.
Rutten's exit continues what has been a tumultuous decade for the club, with the Bombers now seeking an experienced coach to help put a stop to their graceless fall down the ladder.
Alastair Clarkson has now committed to North Melbourne, while the Giants are set to announce their new coach in the coming days, leaving Essendon, and those conducting an external review into the club, a difficult task to find their next coach.
With time not on their side to find a suitable candidate prior to the trade and draft period, Zero Hanger has had a look at who the most likely candidates are for the top job.
Should the Bombers be convinced to go down the experienced coach route, one name stands out among the dwindling field. Lyon has coached 305 games at AFL level, 121 at St Kilda, 184 at Fremantle, leading the Saints to grand final appearances in 2009 and 2010 and Freo in 2013.
The defensive guru left the Dockers in 2019 and fits the bill for what Essendon are after, having proven his ability to instil success at multiple clubs.
Lyon has remained tightlipped about his desire to return to a senior coaching position after settling into a media career.
The former Essendon coach has been floated as a potential contender to return to Tullamarine, despite his exit back in 2015 due to the infamous supplements saga.
Hird has since worked as a part-time assistant coach at GWS throughout 2022, adding additional experience to his resume alongside four years as a senior coach.
The internal desire to see Hird return to the Bombers is reportedly split, with some on the board keen to reinstate the former coach, while some are wary of returning to the past.
While Hird does fit the experienced coach bill, his absence from the game for several years may hinder his chances at regaining the top job, while the 49-year-old is yet to confirm any interest in returning to Windy Hill.
The former Crows coach has plenty of experience under his belt, currently enjoying life as an assistant at the finals-bound Swans.
Pyke coached 93 games at Adelaide throughout 2016-2019, including the 2017 grand final, before resigning from the top job following the 2019 season.
Pyke joined John Longmire's coaching team in 2021 and has injected his attacking flair into the Swans' game plan, and is now being mentioned as a potential replacement for Rutten.
Despite his impressive resume, with the Bombers currently undergoing a period of instability questions may be asked if Pyke is the right man for the job considering the ongoing fallout from the infamous Adelaide training camp.
The current Port Adelaide coach has found his name thrown in the coaching conversation, despite being contracted to the Power until the conclusion of 2023.
Port failed to qualify for the eight this year after a preliminary final appearance in 2021, adding further pressure to Hinkley's position in the top job.
Despite Port president David Koch remaining adamant that Hinkley will be senior coach next season, the Bombers will surely be putting in a call to sound out the future of the 55-year-old.
The man many had as the frontrunner for the GWS top job is now suddenly available following the appointment of Adam Kingsley.
Yze is the only man on the list to have no senior coaching experience (aside from one match as caretaker coach in 2022), but has an impressive resume as an assistant coach at the Hawks and Demons.
The current Melbourne assistant coach is highly rated as a coach in waiting, having first joined Hawthorn in a part-time role ten years ago and playing an instrumental role in the Demons' 2021 premiership success.
While the Bombers have signalled their intent to find an "experienced" coach, the very broad nature of that call leaves Yze as a possible contender.
Elsewhere in the assistant coaching sphere, Mark McVeigh may also firm as an option for the Bombers after serving as interim coach for the Giants for much of the season.