Which AFL coaches are under the most pressure heading into the new season?

THE 2017 season is shaping up as a make or break one for a number of AFL coaches but who is under the most pressure heading into round 1?

THE 2017 season is shaping up as a make or break one for a number of AFL sides and their coaches. But who is under the most pressure heading into round 1?

Can your club survive a slow start to the year?

Herald Sun football reporter Gilbert Gardiner goes through the pressure levels each coach is facing ahead of the new season.

NATHAN BUCKLEY

Finals or bust is nothing new for Collingwood. It is always the case for a club with so much pride. The fly in the ointment this year, however, is the expiration date on Nathan Buckley’s contract — end of 2017. Buckley knows better than anyone he might be running out of time.

“If we don’t win, you don’t stay” in a sport with “high performance expectations” Buckley told SEN last year.

Adding, “There’s no way” he could see himself coaching Collingwood beyond 2017 if the team does not feature in September action.

Nathan Buckley takes Collingwood training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

What’s worse for the Pies is their tricky start to the season starting with premiers Western Bulldogs, Richmond, Sydney (SCG) and St Kilda before the traditional Anzac Day clash with Essendon.

The Pies’ win-loss record has fallen steadily since Buckley took over from premiership coach Mick Malthouse. Injuries have not helped the cause. But Collingwood is capable of big things in 2017. Buckley is armed with the top-ranked midfield in the game, according to Champion Data. And he has weapons in attack and ruckman Brodie Grundy, capable of bridging the gap to Max Gawn and Todd Goldstein as the best big man in the game. The backline is the great unknown, and it could ultimately be the difference in a make-or-break season with several teams outside the eight last year looking to take the next step.

DAMIEN HARDWICK

Will this be the Year of the Tiger? A soft draw allows for a good foundation which could ultimately ensure Hardwick sees out his contract through to the end of 2018. The Tigers must get on the board early with four of their first five games at the MCG against Carlton, Collingwood, West Coast, Brisbane (G) and Melbourne. Every game is winnable for Richmond but as we have seen in the past anything is possible at Punt Road. Wins early will protect Hardwick from questions about job security and the club from any more embarrassing board upheavals. The Tigers have been crying out for depth — in the midfield — and they have it in spades with recruits Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy. Richmond is a lot better than an eight-win team and we should see that in 2017.

Damien Hardwick needs the Tigers to make a strong start. Picture: Getty Images

ROSS LYON/KEN HINKLEY

Tricky start to the season for both coaches who could easily find themselves 0-4 and 1-3 heading into Round 5. Injuries tempered the blowtorch on Lyon last year with Nat Fyfe, Aaron Sandilands and Michael Johnson missing large chunks of the season. Another sub-par season and Fremantle administrators might start to get an itchy trigger finger despite Lyon being signed until 2020.

Hinkley, who is contracted until the end of 2018, could also fall out of favour at Alberton unless he finds a way to reinvigorate Port Adelaide after missing finals for a second straight season. Hinkley caught the competition napping in 2013-14 with a fast-paced game style. Any edge Port had is now gone. The game style is slow and littered with errors.

BRAD SCOTT

A wretched start to the season — West Coast, Geelong, GWS and Western Bulldogs — could see jungle drums beating around Arden Street. And it does not get any easier with Fremantle (at Subiaco), Gold Coast, Adelaide and Sydney to come.

But Scott, in his eighth season and contracted until the end of 2018, might have earned a years’ grace by overseeing the departure of club champions last year.

Imagine the fall out had he stuck with favourite sons — Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo — and potentially gone zip-eight to start this season.

The Kangaroos were not going to win a premiership with their list and needed to make wholesale changes to take the next step and challenge again. Scott built the list once and will get a chance to do it again. Whether he is there to reap any rewards depends on how bad the losses get this year and next.

Brad Scott made some tough calls last year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

ALAN RICHARDSON/SIMON GOODWIN

Their jobs are safe. There is no doubt.

But how is the expectation on these two? Melbourne and St Kilda are both expected to push into the eight but is there room for both? North Melbourne should tumble out but not many other 2016 finalists are putting their hands up to make way for the exciting Saints and Demons. Both teams recruited well in the off season to catapult from 12 and 10 wins respectively into finals calculations. Melbourne has weapons at both ends of the ground, a hard-nosed midfield and arguably the best ruckman in the game.

St Kilda is similar if not better given the options in attack with Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey, Paddy McCartin and Nick Riewoldt who can play anywhere on the ground. The midfield runs deep with Koby Stevens and Jack Steele added to the mix, while Jake Carlisle adds much-needed size to a versatile backline. They play twice during the season (Round 1 and 21) and it could well decide which coach sees September action.

Simon Goodwin will lead Melbourne this season. Picture: Getty Images

FREE HITS

Alastair Clarkson: Earned the right to lead the Hawks in life after Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis but could not afford dropping too far off the pace. Been in the job 12 years and not many coaches get to walk of their accord. Four premierships help.

Brendon Bolton: The build is slow and meticulous but the Blues are making inroads under Bolts. Will be another lean year as far as wins go but getting games into Silvagni, McKay, Weitering and Co is crucial at this stage.

Don Pyke: 16 wins and finals in rookie season is a big tick, but must repeat the dose to shore up future at West Lakes. Brenton Sanderson came within a kick of the Grand Final in his first season as coach and was gone two years later.

Luke Beveridge: Has the job for life at the Whitten Oval after helping the Doggies snap their 62-year premiership drought. There will be a statue of Bevo at the kennel before his papers are stamped.

Chris Fagan: No danger in rookie season. Will get a couple of bites at the cherry to develop Brisbane Lions and begin the climb up the ladder.

Originally published as Which AFL coaches are under the most pressure heading into the new season?