AFL coaching pressure gauge 2024: Which coaches are feeling the heat?
Luke Beveridge’s contract runs until the end of 2025, but the premiership coach might be under the most pressure in the AFL this season. These are the five coaches facing the most heat.
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The 2024 season is yet to start, but for some of the coaches in the AFL the pressure is already rising.
Whether it be poor results from the previous season, a contract expiring or other factors, there are several coaches who might be already feeling the heat — and, if the results don’t come when footy starts more could join them.
The Western Bulldogs have made changes to their coaching panel after a ninth-placed finish in 2023, while out west the future of both senior coaches has been a hot topic.
Here are the coaches that come into the 2024 campaign under pressure, and who could join them if their team doesn’t fire.
LUKE BEVERIDGE
He still has a contract that runs until the end of 2025 but the pressure is mounting on the Bulldogs senior coach.
While he has the 2016 premiership on his CV and steered his side to the 2021 Grand Final, Beveridge’s future is now a big talking point for the Bulldogs.
Despite boasting one of the best lists in the competition, the Dogs missed finals last year and questions were raised about just how much power Beveridge has at Whitten Oval.
The Bulldogs recently finished an external review of their football department — which followed a raft of personnel changes — with Matthew Egan becoming the general manager of football operations.
President Kylie Watson-Wheeler said in a statement the change was done to “implement a clearer demarcation of reporting lines, roles and responsibilities to ensure individuals are better placed to focus on their specific areas, particularly within the coaching structure”.
If the Dogs continue to underperform, then Beveridge’s future could be a huge watch — contract or not.
JUSTIN LONGMUIR
Could Beveridge be in line for another senior coaching gig?
The West Australian reported that there has been a push or the Dockers to pursue Beveridge if there isn’t improvement from Longmuir’s group and a finals berth in 2024.
After making a semi-final in 2022, the Dockers were dour for much of last season.
Longmuir is out of contract at the end of this season and is under a lot of pressure to get the Dockers back on track.
There is plenty of young talent at the Dockers, but they lacked dare for most of last season.
Players are already being quizzed on Longmuir’s future and this is set to continue unless there is significant improvement.
SIMON GOODWIN
Melbourne made finals in 2023, but for the second-straight year the Demons were bundled out in straight sets.
There’s heat on Goodwin after that disaster, but the real pressure centres around the culture at the club.
Goodwin and Demons chief executive Gary Pert went on SEN to deny some of the allegations which have plagued Goodwin and the club has been steadfast in its support of the premiership-winning coach.
But with the microscope on the Demons’ off-field culture, the pressure will rise if Melbourne’s form drops.
KEN HINKLEY
Port Adelaide gave Hinkley a new two-year contract in August, which will bring his time at Alberton past a decade.
But after a straight-sets loss in finals, there are still questions lingering about whether it was the right decision by the Power to re-sign Hinkley.
The Power went big in the trade period, addressing what looked to be its weaknesses and Port should at least be contending for finals with a list flush with talent.
However, if the Power go backwards those fans who are already restless will be again questioning whether Hinkley is the man to bring premiership glory back to Alberton.
ADAM SIMPSON
Despite claiming the wooden spoon, West Coast has stuck fat with Simpson.
A defiant Eagles board has backed the premiership coach to lead the club through its rebuild.
Changes have made elsewhere, with former Adelaide coach Don Pyke now chief executive and Mathew Inness coming from the Bulldogs to be the Eagles new fitness boss — their conditioning has drawn major criticism in recent years.
But with more veterans leaving the Eagles could be even worse in 2024 and the supporters who have been used to the powerhouse club competing for finals and premierships could yet demand change.
That could test the Eagles’ belief that Simpson is the man to lead them back up the ladder.
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