JAYMIE Graham was 32 and still in the early stages of his coaching career when he took on one of the more challenging and politically fraught jobs available at the time in WA football. 

West Coast was entering the third season of its alignment with WAFL club East Perth in 2016 after being blocked from creating a standalone reserves team, and Graham was appointed as the Royals coach as both clubs navigated how to make the partnership work. 

As one of the leading contenders for Essendon and Carlton's vacant coaching positions, Graham has gone on since his East Perth tenure to become one of the AFL's most accomplished and respected assistant coaches.

His diverse football and life experiences have made him a well-rounded coach with experience in development at St Kilda, as a forwards and backs coach at West Coast, and now as a trusted lieutenant to Justin Longmuir in charge of the game's best forward line. 

But it was Graham's approach when coaching his own WAFL team for the first time that gives a clear insight into how he would help a club such as Essendon come together quickly and start a new chapter after a difficult 2026 season. 

"His first senior coaching role was in tough circumstances, given it was an AFL alignment with a WAFL club, and that relationship can create a complex environment," former East Perth head of football Mark Winnett told AFL.com.au. 

"From an alignment perspective, East Perth wanted to win every week, but the emphasis [for West Coast] was probably more on development. So managing that environment would have been really difficult for Jaymie as a senior coach. 

"But his honesty was number one, and it was very clear that he had care for the players and staff in trying to manage that situation, and he had a lot of empathy.

"He created an open-door environment at his house and an environment where everyone felt welcome, and he always listened and respected both sides' opinions. 

"He built a strong relationship with both clubs, given the circumstances that we were in at the time, and I can see that shining through with what I've heard about him at Freo, and from West Coast when he was there."

Graham's strengths as a senior coach at East Perth were his ability to galvanise the group, build rapport quickly with his team, and deliver feedback in the most impactful way for each player. 

His open-door policy extended to hosting barbeques for both the East Perth and West Coast players together to break through the tension that can exist in an alignment club with competing priorities. 

Those who have worked with him since believe he has the ideal skill set and personality to work through the competing forces that may exist at Essendon in the aftermath of its looming appointment of a senior coach. 

Calm, level-headed, patient and trustworthy are all words used by colleagues and players to describe the 43-year-old, whose strategic nous as a line coach has also thrust him to the pointy of both Essendon and Carlton's coach searches.  

With an education degree that complements his coaching, Graham has a style that cuts through with players and quickly earns their respect, according to former Docker Michael Walters. 

"He is always supportive, whilst at the same time expecting the right things from players," Walters said. 

"He taught me that there's also plenty of room for improvement regardless of how long you've been in the system or how many games you've played.

"If you did have a problem, you could always go to him.

"To be a senior coach, you need to have a strong leadership mentality, which he does, and you need to be able to build a good connection to your players for them to go out there and play for you. He definitely does that."

Graham, who played 37 games for West Coast between 2005 and 2008, has a life story outside of football that has instilled in him great family values, courage and resilience, according to those who know him well. 

He has spoken openly in the past about his upbringing, leaving his mother’s care at the age of five as she battled drug addiction to be raised by his grandparents alongside brother Brad in Kalgoorlie. 

Graham moved to Perth to play for South Fremantle in the WAFL and was drafted by West Coast as a rookie in 2004 while completing an electrician apprenticeship. 

With five much younger siblings, however, he cut his football career short as a 25-year-old to take custody with partner Kasey of his youngest sibling, Candy, returning to play in the WAFL until a horrific leg injury in 2011 ended his career. 

Through his life experiences, Graham has become a coach of great substance, according to those who have worked with him at Fremantle. Key forward Josh Treacy is among the Dockers stars who value his support immensely, highlighting the strong connection Graham has with his players.  

"There are so many places I could go with 'JG'," Treacy said this week when asked what made Graham a good coach. 

"He's been phenomenal for my career and my development. Not only as a coach, but as a person to have in my corner and a friend. I couldn't speak highly enough of JG.

"It would be tough to see him go. I've had this chat with him, and I'd be more than happy to see him pursue his dream and coach at the highest level. 

"But we've got business to finish here first and then we'll see what happens."

Graham is in charge of the AFL's best forward line, patiently developing the young group since taking over as line coach at the end of 2021 when he was poached from the Eagles. 

Having also led a successful forward line at West Coast in the 2018 premiership season, his strategic nous in the forward half is complemented by his ability to create a tight-knit line group.  

"He's brought us together as one and allowed us to be a collective that's really worked well together," Treacy said.

"We've created some connections and relationships within our group and the way that we work together and spend time together and interact together away from the club has probably been a real big thing that he's brought in for us."

If Graham does win a senior coaching role as Fremantle mounts a premiership charge, he would have the backing of Longmuir to continue in his role until the end of the finals series. 

Melbourne coach Steven King did similar last year with Geelong, with the Dockers' position highlighting the character and professionalism of their forwards coach. 

"I've got a big understanding that he wants to see this through. He's enjoyed his time here, he's enjoyed his work here and he loves working for the club," Longmuir said. 

"If he got a job elsewhere and they announced it and he wanted to see it through, I'd be happy for him to do that. 

"He's got a lot of trust that he's going to do the job and give all he's got to the club and the path we're on and the mission we're on.

"That trust has been built over a number of years of working together and knowing each other. He'll put this club first."