Geelong coach Chris Scott is reportedly tipped to become "the most wanted man in the game" in 2024, with rival clubs anticipated to come calling for his services in the final year of his contract.
Scott is tied to Geelong until the end of next year after the club announced a two-year extension in May 2022, with the confirmed contract coming days after he surpassed Reg Hickey's record for the most wins as a Cats coach.
The two-time premiership mentor will become the longest-serving coach in Geelong's history in Round 20 when the Cats host Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium.
Scott was named as a target for clubs in need of a coach ahead of the 2022 season as he neared the final term of his contract, with a similar trend expected to follow over the coming 12 months.
According to Triple M's Jay Clark, clubs are already beginning to see Scott as a target should they need to weigh up their options for the future.
Across the course of this year, Gold Coast's Stuart Dew and West Coast's Adam Simpson have had doubt cast over their respective tenures, however club chiefs from both the Suns and Eagles have come to defend their embattled coaches.
With both Dew and Simpson among the coaches to have their own contracts scheduled to end with the conclusion of the 2024 season, Clark has revealed interest in Scott is increasing.
"Key people are talking about Chris Scott being the most wanted man in the game next year when his contract expires," Clark told Dead Set Legends.Â
"Geelong face a bit of a big decision, don't they? Do they try and re-contract him this summer coming or does he need more time to think and weigh up his options?
"Damien Hardwick is all the buzz at the moment, but when you think about what's happening at West Coast, the obvious decision at Gold Coast, even Carlton and the future of Michael Voss as well, people are talking about Chris Scott being the A1 coaching option in the season of 2024 with as many runs on the board as you could possibly imagine.
"Is he going to make that commitment before next season? Or is next season going to play out with him coming to the end of his contract?"
The coaches that join Simpson and Dew in being unsigned beyond next year are Melbourne's Simon Goodwin, Carlton's Michael Voss, Adelaide's Matthew Nicks and Fremantle's Justin Longmuir.
All of Collignwood's Craig McRae (2026), the Western Bulldogs' Luke Beveridge (2025) and Brisbane's Chris Fagan (2025) recently recommitted to their respective clubs.
Port Adelaide are the only club yet to have a coach signed for next year, with Ken Hinkley's deal ending at the cessation of the current season. With the Power returning to premiership contention this year, Hinkley is tipped to earn an extension, however a decision won't be made until August at the earliest.
Scott holds the best win rate for any coach that has led a club in 100 or more matches, having chalked up 207 wins from his 301 matches as Geelong's coach to amass a rate of 69.27%. That comes ahead of the legendary John Coleman (68.80%), Dick Reynolds (66.99%) and Jock McHale (66.06%).
Geelong's constant presence as a top eight side has been prevalent in Scott's 12 seasons prior to 2023, with the Cats having missed out on finals just once under his tutelage since 2011. Scott's 28 finals games as coach has him placed 10th all-time for the metric.
That tally could be extended this year as Geelong sit in reaching distance of a top eight spot after 16 rounds.
