Geelong assistant coach Steven King is the new favourite to coach West Coast in 2025, according to former Eagles coach Will Schofield.

The 45-year-old spent more than a decade as an assistant coach first at St Kilda (2010-11), then the Western Bulldogs (2012-21), where he helped the club win the 2016 championship and reach the 2021 grand final, and then the Gold Coast (2022-23), where he replaced Stuart Dew as interim coach following his dismissal in mid-2023.

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A decorated playmaker who was named an All-Australian in 2000 and won the VFL and AFL championships in a week with Geelong in 2007, King is currently the Eagles’ “no.1 target”, according to Schofield, with previous big men at the club including Dean Cox, Jaymie Graham and Ashley Hansen having all turned down offers to replace the sacked Adam Simpson at the helm in 2025.

“He’s a guy I’ve heard is the number one prospect for the West Coast Eagles,” Schofield said of King on Fox Footy AFL tonight.

“His CV – there’s not much more he could do. He’s coached at four clubs, he’s captained a football club, he’s a best and fairest winner and he’s a Premiership player.

“He’s been a coach – he’s got experience that no one else on this list has, and I think he’s the one West Coast wants.

“King would be number one for me… I don’t think they’re looking for anyone else.”

Schofield expects King’s appointment to be confirmed after the conclusion of the Cats’ September season, as Chris Scott’s side face Port Adelaide in the qualifying final on Thursday night.

Other candidates reportedly in the running for the Eagles job include Western Bulldogs assistant Brendon Lade, Melbourne assistant and Richmond interim coach in 2023 Andrew McQualter and current Eagles interim coach Jarrad Schofield.

Steven King has emerged as the favourite to coach West Coast in 2025. (Photo: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Blues brace for bad news from Curnow ahead of qualifying final

Star Carlton forward Charlie Curnow is unlikely to feature in the Blues’ qualifier against Brisbane on Saturday as the two-time Coleman Medal winner continues to struggle with an ankle injury.

Curnow limped off the pitch during the Blues’ disastrous Round 22 defeat to Hawthorn and has missed the last two games, both home and away, ending his chance of winning a third successive Coleman title.

Almost four weeks on, the double All-Australian was still restricted to light training during Blues training on Wednesday and seems unlikely to travel to the Gabba, according to Herald Sun.

Curnow was expected to be one of the stars returning from injury for the decider, while Adam Cerra (hamstring injury), Tom De Koning (foot), Jack Martin (hamstring injury), Mitch McGovern (hamstring injury), Harry McKay (quadriceps) and Zac Williams (hamstring injury) will all be competing to prove their fitness on Thursday before the squads are announced later this evening.

The Blues have already confirmed that veteran Sam Docherty will make his fantastic return against the Lions, having been out of action since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against the same side in the first round of the competition.

Speaking of Fox Footy AFL360Former footballing great Jack Riewoldt has suggested that Curnow’s absence could have a positive effect on the Blues, claiming his loss will make the team less predictable in attack.

“Without Charlie Curnow they were a completely different team because of the way they moved the ball,” Riewoldt said.

“If McKay gets there and gets up, they’ll have someone to kick the ball down the line to – they didn’t have that against Saints in the Round 24 loss.

“Maybe there’s a different dynamic here… it just gives them a different path and a different perspective on the future.

“They can become very key forwards in terms of the way they use the ball. There will be a lot on their smaller forwards… think about Williams and Martin in particular, they will come in and play a massive role, and De Koning is massive in terms of fighting through the contest and actually bringing the ball into the break.”