IT IS usually referred to as the AFL coaching merry-go-round.

At the moment it feels more like a vomitron.

Ever since Brenton Sanderson was sacked by Adelaide a fortnight ago, the coaching circus has been nothing short of frantic.


When Sanderson was fired, Crows powerbroker Mark Ricciuto called good friend and Essendon assistant Simon Goodwin to assess his interest.

Senior Bomber assistant Mark Thompson was on the market, but he was filthy at the way Adelaide axed former colleague Sanderson and was never going to entertain their advances.

Brendon Bolton (Hawthorn) and Stuart Dew (Sydney Swans) had a Grand Final to concentrate on, so the Crows waited.

As they did, Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna was put through the wringer.
A review was reviewed and McKenna's cards were marked.

But the Suns didn't want to act before the Grand Final, so McKenna was in limbo until the axe fell on Wednesday.

The industry is notoriously cut-throat, but this was more blood-thirsty than usual.

In the background, Essendon pondered its future and whether to appeal Justice John Middleton's emphatic ruling in its fight against ASADA.

Thompson was hunted by the Suns.

Thompson was possibly set to sign with the Suns.

Essendon had to act but it was stuck in a muddle.

Thompson flew out to the United States the next day, with a lot to think about and seemingly no clear idea of what he'd be doing in 2015.

Even by the supplements-saga standards of the past two years, Essendon was a shemozzle.

Goodwin is gone, Thompson may still be going and Hird is holding on for dear life.

What happens next is anyone's guess.

Former West Coach premiership coach John Worsfold insists he is not on the market to return to senior coaching ranks.

Former Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss has said likewise in recent weeks.

Bolton and Dew appear leading candidates, both having premiership experience as right-hand men.

Essendon assistant Nathan Bassett could attract interest.

Should Bassett leave the Bombers, the club may well have to come up with a new coaching panel.

The sensational sacking of Scott Watters set the bar high in 2013 but this year's bloodletting has been even more chaotic.