Coaching Moves

Both Brisbane Coach Chris Fagan and Geelong Coach Chris Scott have been given contract extensions. Fagan's is for two seasons while Scott is signed through 2022.

Adam Kingsley has decided to leave his position at St Kilda to seek new opportunities at Richmond. Kingsley, who played 170 games with Port Adelaide from 1997 to 2006, has been with the Saints since 2011. A highly credentialed coach, Kingsley is a graduate of the inaugural Level Four Coaches Program, was named the AFL Coaches Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015, and is very highly regarded by his peers.

Following his retirement, Kingsley remained at Port Adelaide as an assistant coach until the end of 2010 when he crossed over to the Saints. He coached the forward line, midfield and transition in his eight seasons at the club. He will be reunited with former Port premiership player Damien Hardwick at Richmond.

Another former Port player, Brendan Lade has left his post at Port to join the St Kilda Saints. He was also "looking for other opportunities". Lade played 234 games for Port, including the 2004 premiership. He won two best and fairest awards and was named All-Australian in 2006. After retiring as a player, he spent seven seasons at Richmond as an assistant coach. He returned to Port Adelaide as line coach in 2016.

Departing the Saints are Simon McPhee, Rohan Welsh, and Lindsay Gilbee. McPhee joined the Saints in 2012 as senior coach of VFL affiliate Sandringham following a decorated coaching tenure at Claremont in the WAFL. He then became development coach at St Kilda before taking on the role of midfield coach this year.

Welsh joined the Saints in 2015 after an extensive stint coaching elite junior talent. Following three years in charge of the back line, Welsh moved to forward line coach in 2018. Welsh was originally drafted by Essendon in 1988 but never played a senior game and was delisted at the end of 1990. His strong form in the VFL caught the attention of Carlton and he joined the Blues in 1992 and played 42 games. A severe knee injury sidelined him for two years but he returned in 1996. He was delisted (released) at the end of 1997. He played in the VFL for several more years. Upon retirement, he turned to coaching. He coached teams in the juniors' TAC Cup, including the state Vic Metro team, then was appointed coach of the Casey Scorpions in the VFL before joining the Saints as defensive coach in 2015.

Gilbee played 202 games for the Western Bulldogs from 2001 to 2012 and joined the Saints as a development coach at the end of 2013. He coached St Kilda's VFL affiliate Sandringham in 2017 and returned to development coach this year.  

Former Adelaide defender Ben Rutten has left his position as an assistant coach at Richmond to join Essendon in a similar role. Rutten has been with the Tigers for four years. He played 229 games for the Crows. 

Former Swan Matthew Nicks, will also be leaving Port Adelaide to return to Sydney. However, he will not be joining his old club. Instead, he will be an assistant coach at cross-town rival GWS. Nicks played 175 games for the Swans, retiring in 2005. He has been with Port for the past two seasons and will be the senior assistant coach to Leon Cameron.

Sources: Club Media Releases: Clair White (St Kilda), Alison Zell, (GWS), Natalie MacGregor (Essendon), Jamee Damon (Richmond), sen.com,au, Encyclopedia of League Footballers, wikipedia.com