Premiership coach Mark Williams has been installed as the $3.5 favourite to be the next permanent senior coach of Melbourne at Centrebet following Mark Neeld’s sacking.

Williams coached Port Adelaide to win the 2004 Grand Final and is currently a senior assistant coach at Richmond. Former Bulldogs coach and current Collingwood Director of Coaching, Rodney Eade is equal $4 second favourite with Neil Craig who will take over as Melbourne’s caretaker coach for the remainder of the season.

“Melbourne needs a senior coach with experience, we don’t think they will put a first time coach in again after the Neeld disaster,” Centrebet’s Michael Felgate said.

“Williams has said publicly that he wants to coach again so he will definitely be looked at.”

Former Carlton coach Brett Ratten is well in the market at $7 with Scott Burns just ahead of Kevin Sheedy at $10 who is expected to finish up at the Giants at the end of this year.

Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos has been kept safe in the market at $15.

“If Roos declared he wanted to coach again he would be a short priced favourite as he would be a perfect fit for the Dees,” Felgate said.

Current coaches Alastair Clarkson and John Worsfold also create interest at $17.

“Clarkson would be Melbourne’s number one choice but they will need to come up with a massive offer to entice him away from the Hawks next year,”

“Worsfold is out of contract at the end of the year, if the Eagles miss the finals he could be keen to make the move to Melbourne.”

NEXT PERMANENT COACH OF MELBOURNE
Centrebet Market

$3.50 Mark Williams
$4 Rodney Eade, Neil Craig
$7 Brett Ratten, Scott Burns
$10 Kevin Sheedy
$12 Alan Richardson
$15 Paul Roos
$17 Alastair Clarkson, John Worsfold
$26 Dean Laidley, Gary Lyon
$31 Paul Roos, Peter Sumich, Matthew Knights
$41 Todd Viney, Michael Voss, Nathan Bassett