Up to 10 candidates: Lions "scouring coaching market"

The Brisbane Lions will this week ramp up its coaching search, speaking to as many as 10 candidates about the position.

Despite suggestions the Lions would favour an internal replacement for departing triple premiership coach Chris Fagan, the club is set to scour the market.

Members of the selection panel will tomorrow begin a series of “coffee catch-ups” with prospective coaches from across the competition.

From there, a shortlist will be formed for formal presentations and interviews.

Lions assistant coach Cameron Bruce will proceed directly to the presentation stage.

Bruce - an assistant in both the Hawthorn and Brisbane dynasties – is still seen as the strong favourite to take what is arguably the most coveted job in football.

But the Lions’ open-minded approach again opens the door – in theory - for former coaches Nathan Buckley and Adam Simpson.

It also offers another chance to a wave of assistant coaches in a year where Carlton, Essendon, North Melbourne and the Tasmania Devils have made senior appointments.

Daniel Giansiracusa, Corey Enright, Daniel Pratt, James Kelly, David Hale, Murray Davis and Brendon Lade have all featured in various processes.

Brisbane football boss Danny Daly was seen as a leading candidate, but last week decided not to pursue the Brisbane job and will instead remain as general manager of football.

Daly is also sitting on the Lions’ selection committee which includes chairman Andrew Wellington, CEO Sam Graham, former Australian basketball coach and club coaching mentor Phil Smyth and board member Leigh Matthews serving in an advisory capacity.

Fagan departs having guided the Lions to three consecutive premierships from four straight Grand Finals from a decade in charge.