Nathan Buckley, Tom Liberatore, Jake Stringer among those under the most pressure in 2018

FOOTY is a high-pressure game, but some enter 2018 under more pressure than others. Coaches, players, presidents and key staff at many clubs will be under the pump. SAM EDMUND names who’s in the hot seat at your club.

Nathan Buckley was re-signed on a two-year deal against the odds at the end of last season. Was it justified? Picture: David Crosling

FOOTY is a high-pressure game, but some enter 2018 under more pressure than others.

Coaches, players, presidents and key staff at many clubs will be under the pump.

Using a scale of 1-5, SAM EDMUND names who’s in the hot seat at your club.

ADELAIDE — TAYLOR WALKER (4)

The skipper’s comments on Jake Lever were hypocritical at best, his post Grand Final speech was unsporting and the erect-arm stare-off he led bordered on embarrassing. Now Walker has a plantar fascia injury and may not be ready for Round 1. With Rory Sloane debating whether to leave and the Crows desperate for Grand Final redemption, “Tex” needs to be the stable, inspiring captain they need. Pressure mounts quickly in a two-team fishbowl.

A dejected Taylor Walker after last year’s Grand Final loss. Picture: Sarah Reed

BRISBANE LIONS — ALLEN CHRISTENSEN (2.5)

Here’s a shock — this guy is 26. The promising Geelong premiership player has become the forgotten Brisbane midfielder and could suddenly be playing for his footy life. Unsighted since Round 11, 2016, Christensen has undergone four collarbone ops, but is now fit again. Needs a good year.

EMERGING BLUES: BOLTON LOOKS TO ADD ATTACKING ELEMENT

CARLTON — BRENDON BOLTON (3)

The green shoots should now be shrubs. Bolton, the teacher who became a coach, enters his third year having turned over a staggering 40 players in that time. Scoring is an issue, yet fans have seen competitiveness and gradual improvement. But will the loss of Bryce Gibbs leave them vulnerable in 2018?

THE COACH: PIES RE-SIGN BUCKLEY FOR TWO MORE YEARS

TRAINING: HOWE, MOORE, ELLIOTT, FASOLO STILL ON MODIFIED PROGRAMS

PRE-SEASON ISSUES: IS BUCKLEY THE AFL’S UNLUCKIEST COACH?

COLLINGWOOD — NATHAN BUCKLEY (5)

Got a new two-year deal, but perhaps one with more clauses than a Santa convention. In one of the hottest seats in Australian sport with no finals since 2013, a drop every year he’s been in charge and now some quality players injured. What if they start 1-5?

Nathan Buckley was re-signed on a two-year deal against the odds at the end of last season. Was it justified? Picture: Getty

ESSENDON — JAKE STRINGER (3.5)

Who will we see? The All-Australian thrill-a-minute forward of 2015 or the selfish distraction of 2017? Has done everything right at his new club — except the new tattoo — and if he gets it right his midfield influence could take the Bombers anywhere. Over to you, Jake.

INTRA-CLUB: STRINGER IMPRESSES IN FIRST BOMBERS HITOUT

FREMANTLE — ROSS LYON (4.5)

Was considered the genius that only a freakish bounce and bad luck stopped from winning a flag at the Saints. Agonising Grand Final losses have become embarrassing home-and-away thrashings and Harley Bennell is the itch he can’t scratch. The Dockers were 16th in 2016 and 14th last year. Contracted until 2020, but is he capable of engineering a rebuild? Indeed, is Ross still the boss?

SUPERSTAR: WRITE OFF GAZ AT YOUR PERIL, DANGERFIELD WARNS

SUPERCOACH: DO WE PICK GARY ABLETT IN 2018?

GEELONG — CHRIS SCOTT (4)

Contract-wise he appears as safe as houses, but another soft finals exit would rile an always-expectant fan base. Recruited for the now with Gary Ablett — and with Dangerfield, Selwood and Duncan, have the best midfield since the Lions’ fab four. But what keeps going wrong at the business end?

Geelong coach Chris Scott and captain Joel Selwood after the heavy preliminary final loss to Adelaide. Picture: Michael Klein

GOLD COAST — MARK EVANS (5)

Has arguably the toughest to-do list in football. Sign sponsors so the AFL doesn’t again have to hand over an extra $5.5 million at the end of the year. Get people to games. Last year’s biggest home crowd was 17,275 and now they face a season without a home game until mid-year due to the Commonwealth Games. And above all else, keep out-of-contract co-captain Tom Lynch.

GWS — DAVID JOYCE (4)

For the last two years the Giants have had a casualty ward like a scene out of Mash and twice they’ve made a preliminary final. Leon Cameron may have the keys to the Ferrari, but the engine is yet to hit top gear. Imagine if Joyce, the head of athletic performance, can help keep their players on the park.

INTRA CLUB: O’MEARA THE STANDOUT IN HAWKS TRIAL GAME

SUPERCOACH: THE HAWKS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER IN YOUR SIDE

STAR: HAWKS WON’T PUT TIMEFRAME ON RIOLI RETURN

HAWTHORN — JAEGER’S KNEE (3)

This troublesome joint may determine whether Clarko’s bold decision to punt Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis and part with top draft picks was the correct one. Can O’Meara be the player those in the know say he can be? The pre-season signs are positive, but it’s a long season. A knee problem — unrelated to the patella tendon injury that cost him two years at Gold Coast, but on the same knee — restricted him to only six games last year. Has a point to prove.

Can Jaeger O'Meara have an injury-free season? The Hawks are banking on it. Picture: Michael Klein

MELBOURNE — SIMON GOODWIN (3.5)

The Demons were expected to — and should have — played finals last year for the first time since 2006, only to fall agonisingly short. Then came the shotgun trading of popular clubman Jack Watts. Then came the player revolt that forced the club to abandon the commando-style training camp Goodwin had approved. Does Goodwin’s hard edge have the players?

TRAINING CAMP: MELBOURNE PLAYERS REVOLT OVER CAMP THAT’S TOO HARD

NORTH MELBOURNE — BEN BUCKLEY (2.5)

How do you make a club relevant? Might be unfair to single out the chairman in a whole-of-club issue, but the buck stops with his board. The Kangaroos are a side in transition, but this isn’t a club that can afford to slip into obscurity when the bottom line is at stake.

GARY BUCKENARA: NORTH MELBOURNE 10 YEARS AWAY FROM CHALLENGING FOR FLAG

FINALS LOSS: KOCH SLAMMED FOR PORT CRITICISM

PORT ADELAIDE — DAVID KOCH (4)

The pressure is on the TV host and chairman — to keep quiet. Koch admitted there was “tension” between he and coach Ken Hinkley after he last year launched a scathing attack on Port’s players following the extra-time elimination final loss to West Coast. Hinkley re-signed only days later, but when the inevitable slump hits can “Kochie” keep it zipped?

David Koch often gets himself into strife with his public comments. Picture: Getty

RICHMOND — THE TATTOOIST/DINO IMBRIANO (0.5)

It’s a dead heat between the Tigers’ players’ preferred inkster and the membership boss. The tattooist has got 22 ankle premiership designs to get through, plus Dusty’s usual quota. How will he find the time? If Richmond really does hit 90,000 members, that’s a lot of envelopes for Dino to lick.

YEAR OF THE TIGER: HOW RICHMOND CLAIMED FAIRYTALE FLAG

KEY FORWARD: McCARTIN CONFIDENT CONCUSSION ISSUES ARE BEHIND HIM

ST KILDA — PADDY McCARTIN (3.5)

Six concussions in his first three years puts the key forward in the desperately unlucky basket. But the cold, hard fact is that McCartin is a No.1 draft pick who has played only 22 games in three seasons. Has shown glimpses, but with Nick Riewoldt gone, his time is now.

The time is now for Paddy McCartin to stand up for St Kilda and realise his potential. Picture: George Salpigtidis

SYDNEY — ISAAC HEENEY (2.5)

Missed the first four games of last season after being diagnosed with glandular fever. A super-exciting prospect and if he catches fire in midfield this year he could prove the difference between another nearly-there season for the Swans and a premiership campaign.

WEST COAST — ADAM SIMPSON (5)

That extra-time elimination final win over Port Adelaide may have papered over some cracks, but not many. Already under pressure from an expectant supporter base, Simpson now faces the difficult task of winning while overseeing a transition towards youth. Matt Priddis and Sam Mitchell are gone, but Simpson needs the wins to keep coming.

WESTERN BULLDOGS — TOM LIBERATORE (4)

One of several players to fall off the cliff after the euphoric flag of 2016. The rumours were rife, but the ball-getting was not, in a 2017 season to forget. But club scouts are emphatically declaring the midfielder back in town and hungry for more success.

Tom Liberatore had a disappointing season in 2017 and is under pressure to find his best form this year. Picture: Mark Stewart