AFL club CEOs are expected to consider an AFL coaches' association proposal to ban the poaching of coaches in-season at a club CEOs conference on Thursday.
Under the proposal, clubs would be allowed to sound out coaching candidates in the post-season bye round that was introduced into the fixture this season, but would not be able to interview the candidates until the clubs' finals campaigns were completed.
At the end of last season, two current senior coaches went down different paths in their appointment process.
Hawthorn lost key assistant Brendon Bolton on the eve of the finals when he was appointed Carlton coach, while Don Pyke waited until West Coast's campaign had finished before being interviewed by Adelaide.
Hawthorn and West Coast played in the Grand Final but Bolton was already at Carlton while Pyke was still in the Eagles' coaches box as an assistant on Grand Final day.
Coaches continuing at their current clubs while already signing elsewhere for the following season has been a hot topic in American basketball in recent weeks, with Golden State Warriors NBA assistant coach Luke Walton staying with the defending champions through their playoff run despite signing a multi-year deal to coach the Los Angeles Lakers from next season.
The AFLCA preference is for all clubs to follow the process Adelaide followed in its dealings with Don Pyke.
The AFL's senior coaches endorsed the proposal at the AFLCA's annual meeting in March and approached football operations manager Mark Evans to a discussion paper to club chiefs.
Evans is expected to seek feedback on the anti-tampering proposal from club CEOs and depending on the response and level of feedback provided, take a proposal to the AFL Commission for endorsement.
AFLCA CEO Mark Brayshaw confirmed to AFL.com.au on Wednesday that he expected club CEOs to discuss the proposal on Thursday.
Senior coaches have been disappointed to lose assistants ahead of important finals campaigns and the AFLCA has also been hopeful that anti-tampering rules may remove the incentive for clubs to sack coaches early in the season.
Senior coaches such as North Melbourne's Brad Scott and Hawthorn's Alastair Clarkson missed finals campaigns at their former clubs when they were appointed to their respective positions.
No club has a coach coming out of contract at the end of this season but several coaches are under pressure after their teams had poor starts to the season.
Club chiefs are anticipating an update on the investment plan being developed with many impatient for information that will allow them to prepare budgets.
Club CEOs are also expecting to hear of the progress being made on the collective bargaining agreement.
