This'll sound a bit silly because he's obviously doing very with the kids at GWS, but Choco left port because he'd lost the kids, not the senior players. A big chunk of the list looked towards Laidley as their mentor, not Choco.

Agreed he was there too long and the way GWS are going it's definitely says there's something to say he knows what's going on.

You're right. They should be taking the lead from someone qualified like Adrian Gleeson. sad because it's true...

Everyone knows the likes of Choco, Eade, Ayres etc... What about some of the lesser knowns? The following are three that I know a little bit about, both through reputation and second hand accounts.

Phil Walsh - Was Choco's right-hand man at Port when they won the premiership. Now at the Eagles where he is "Strategy and Innovations Coach". Was prepared to go back to Port until West Coast offered him a deal he couldn't refuse, so obviously held in high regard. Have heard him called a "tactical genius" by a few ex-Port players. However, seems very low key and might not want to be a head coach?

Nathan Basset - Former Crows defender who took over Norwood in the SANFL. Turned the Redlegs from a basket case into a team that lost the GF to Central Districts by a goal in one year (giving Centrals 10 of the previous 11 SANFL flags). Despite the Norwood list being raided by AFL clubs in the 2010 and 2010 Drafts, achieved a top 3 finish in 2011 and currently has them on top of the ladder, having lost one game all year (by one point). However, he is still young and yet to serve in any coaching capacity at AFL level. Too green?

Scott Burns - Michelangelo Rucci said that Burns was never really in the running for the Crows job, and that Sanderson was the choice all along. I heard however that Burns was the seen as the man for the job until he stated that he did not feel ready to take up the responsibility of being a head coach. Currently oversees the West Coast midfield. Has long been seen as a future senior coach, but if he indeed felt he wasn't ready last year, would he feel any differently at this stage?