The discussion surrounding this season's Coach of the Year appears to have it as a three-horse race between Collingwood's Craig McRae, GWS' Adam Kingsley, and Carlton's Michael Voss.
Craig McRae received the 2022 award after taking Collingwood to within one point of a grand final in his first season as head coach and it seems he could go back-to-back. McRae has once again steered the Magpies to a preliminary final this season and secured the minor premiership after sitting on top of the ladder for a majority of the year.
Whilst McRae won the award last year off the back of a stunning 11-game winning streak and last-gasp victories, this year he has been commended on his ability to cement Collingwood as the best team in the league, with their form throughout the year seeing them emerge as a genuine premiership contender. A grand final berth could see McRae win the award, but his former Richmond colleague Adam Kingsley might just pip him if the Magpies lose on Friday night.
Kingsley's first season at the Giants has been a rollercoaster to say the least, yet has managed to end on a high. After Round 15, GWS were sitting 14th on the ladder with only six wins to their name. Since then, they've gone on to win seven of their last nine games, including a stunning performance over Carlton in Round 24 which saw them scrape into the top eight.
Now, GWS and their 'orange tsunami' look to take over the MCG on Friday night against Collingwood as they search for a second grand final berth. If they win on Friday night, it seems as though Kingsley may just edge out McRae for the award.
And then there's Michael Voss, who turned a tumultuous season for Carlton into one of great success in his second year at the helm. Carlton looked gone and out of finals for yet another year when they notched up their sixth consecutive loss against Essendon in Round 13.
However they turned their season around, going on to win nine games in a row and secure fifth spot on the ladder to appear in finals for the first time since 2013. This weekend, they'll appear in their first preliminary final since 2000 when they take on Brisbane at the Gabba after successful last-gasp wins over both the Sydney Swans and Melbourne. Regardless of the outcome, there is no doubt that Michael Voss is in the conversation for Coach of the Year.
Find out who our team has tipped to take out Coach of the Year Honours for 2023 in our latest Roundtable.
Mitch Keating: Adam Kingsley
It takes some effort to steer a side into a preliminary final, and potentially a grand final, after sitting among the bottom few rungs on the ladder with nine rounds remaining in the season. But to do it in your first year as a senior coach after your club finished in the bottom three the year prior is a herculean effort.
The Giants also lost Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper prior to this season, with Kingsley's short time at the helm flipping the script on the Giants' list trend, with the new coach playing a part in having the likes of Tom Green, Lachie Ash and Harry Himmelberg all recommit. Having rekindled the ‘Orange Tsunami', Kingsley is the clear coach of the year winner irrespective of this week's result.
Ed Carmine: Craig McRae
Despite Michael Voss' corrected course and Adam Kingsley's stellar first season, it has to be Craig McRae, doesn't it?
Since the completion of Round 1, Fly's Pies have never sat lower than fifth on the ladder, and since the cessation of week seven, the Magpies have ruled the roost, sitting atop the ladder between late-April and late-August.
Into a second-successive prelim', if the Woods go two better than last year and win it all, it should be impossible to deny McRae.
Annie Ireland: Adam Kingsley
Despite the consistent form Collingwood has delivered under McRae, Adam Kingsley's first season as head coach will see him win the award. Kingsley has taken the Giants from 16th in 2022 to within arm's reach of the premiership cup after a miraculous win over Carlton in Round 24 saw them qualify for finals.
Now, they loom as a genuine premiership contender after taking out St Kilda and Port Adelaide and have the opportunity to recreate their 2019 preliminary final heroics against Collingwood this weekend. Regardless of who wins on Friday night, Kingsley's ability to turn his side's form around in the back half of the season should see him recognised.
Lachie Fagan: Adam Kingsley
My vote this year goes to Adam Kingsley. Taking over a new club is never easy, let alone a small market team. His ability to get top form again out of players like Coniglio, Whitfield and Hogan has been very impressive. Allowing players like Toby Greene and Tom Green to take control has had a lot of effect. First year as a coach into a prelim final speaks for itself.
Josh De Sa: Adam Kingsley
For coach of the year, I think you can just about lock in Adam Kingsley. The turnaround seen in the Giants has been remarkable and I can't remember a time I've seen something like it. Michael Voss was in a similar situation with Carlton, but his side greatly underachieved to start the year – where they're at now is where we all expected them to be. The Giants weren't in many top eight predictions, let alone in a prelim.
Craig McRae has had an outstanding year keeping the Pies on top, but Kingsley's coaching of his side has been second to none. On top of winning games consistently in the second half of the season, their game style is one of the more enjoyable to watch. Fast ball movement, aggressive on the counterattack and an incredible backline make up the basis of the team. The ‘orange tsunami' is very real and that big, big sound from Western Sydney is owed largely thanks to Kingsley's coaching.