MARK WILLIAMS
The front-runner. A premiership coach at Port Adelaide in 2004, and his team topped the ladder three years running during his tenure. Resigned in 2010, then spent two years helping Kevin Sheedy build the GWS Giants. After it became clear he wouldn't get the head coaching role once Sheedy retired, went to Richmond as a development coach. He has been lauded for his work with the players at Punt Road. Had a strong working relationship with Saints head of football Chris Pelchen while the pair were at Port. That will help. The length of contract appears the only sticking point.
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ALAN RICHARDSON
Right in contention now. Currently Port's director of coaching, he ruled himself out of contention on Tuesday in a club statement. Less than 12 hours later, he backflipped. He says he has reconsidered his position and will now hold talks with the Saints. That means he must be well and truly on the Saints' radar. Has just missed out on several previous head coaching roles despite being highly rated. A former Collingwood player, he has been an assistant at Essendon, Collingwood, Carlton, and the Western Bulldogs.
ADAM KINGSLEY
Another with Port connections. Currently an assistant at St Kilda, Kingsley was a premiership player under Williams in 2004, and also worked under him as an assistant coach there. Has been with the Saints for three years, learning his craft firstly under Ross Lyon, then Scott Watters. Interestingly, he also won Australia's Brainiest Footballer – a television quiz on the Ten Network in 2006 - beating Nathan Buckley among others.
SIMON McPHEE
Certainly the least known of those in contention. Currently coaches St Kilda's VFL affiliate Sandringham Zebras. A WAFL premiership coach with Claremont in 2011, he was brought to Seaford when Scott Watters was appointed to be part of his coaching panel. He has earned plaudits for his ability to motivate players, and reports suggest he has interviewed impressively.
ROBERT HARVEY
Another who has ruled himself out of the running for the Saints job declaring he is not ready, but would appear a very good fit. A Saints champion as a player, the 383-game veteran has been an assistant at the Saints, Carlton and currently Collingwood under another Brownlow Medallist in Nathan Buckley. Would need St Kilda to chase him.
JOHN WORSFOLD
Another St Kilda would need to pursue, and with a fair deal of energy given Worsfold has just run the New York Marathon in decent time. The former premiership coach parted company with West Coast at the end of last season, and has given little away as to what his next move might be. No doubt he has the ability and the track record to coach again. The question is whether he has the motivation to do so right now, and would he be interested in doing it in Melbourne? Worth noting he is an ambassador for the Shane Warne Foundation – a children's charity run by the mad Saints fan.