Freo’s Anthony Morabito is congratulated by team-mate Hayden Ballantyne after scoring a goal during the AFL Round 03 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Geelong Cats at Subiaco Oval, Perth. Slattery Images
At the start of the season, it was pretty easy to suggest that a couple of coaches in particular were skating on thin ice. Probably the most vulnerable was Mark Harvey at Fremantle.
Harvey was appointed coach for 3 years back in September 2007. After successive seasons of finishing 14th, Harvey would have been desperate for something positive in 2010.
However, after having lost mature bodies and experience from his midfield at the end of 2008, he was left with a bunch of no names and kids for 2009.
Competitiveness diminished as their percentage dropped from 93.7 in 2008 to 77.3 in 2009.
And so to season 2010. Who could have picked Freo to be sitting just a percentage off top spot 6 weeks in. 5 wins from 6 and a game clear in fourth?
Harvey looks safe. And the Dockers look buoyant.
Can the same be said for John Worsfold over at the Eagles?
Much more was expected of the Eagles this year, and sitting 1-5 with only a home win over the disappointed Bombers to show, is not a confidence inspiring start.
Other coaches who may suddenly be in more trouble than would have been thought at the start of the season include:
Neil Craig: Adelaide 0-6 with a need for a list clean out and perhaps a new coach at the same time.
Alistair Clarkson: a Premiership in 2008, but they have gone backwards since. Perhaps the magic spell is broken.
Dean Bailey: like Harvey, he will be breathing far easier now that he’s managed to extract some encouraging form from his young list, as well.
Redb
Roar Guru
Just goes to show the club never recovered from Judd and Cousins going, who along with Kerr represented an outstanding midfield.
BigAl
Guest
No. 1 John Worsfold No. 2 John Worsfold No. 3 John Worsfold at the end of the season - the Eagles are too professional to do it mid-season.
James
Guest
He's lost the support of the media here so he is a dead man walking.
Redb
Roar Guru
There must be a lot of pressure on Craig in the fishbowl of Adelaide. When the players start changing the training regime, more cause for concern.
Redb
Roar Guru
You wish. :-)
Michael C
Roar Guru
I thought about Knights, I reckoned he's safe for this year, but, end of year might be in the firing line. Mainly because so many of the young key possie players have had injury issues etc - - they need to be patient for this year. But, going forward, after all, Knights is from underachieving Richmond - - - is he really equipped to drive Essendon into September action,.....or,.....is 9th-12th all he knows??? If Richmond in 9th did not exist, then Essendon in 9th must be invented........
James
Guest
I'd say Craig, Worsfold, Clarkson, Knights will be out by seasons end. These are clubs that don't make panic mid-season sackings so I can't see them going before Round 22.
Redb
Roar Guru
I don't see why Matthew Knights is off the hook. One top notch effort does not make a season. James Hird should not be coaching the team and getting them 'up' from his desk at the Herald Sun via a newspaper column. I'm yet to be convinced that Knights has the players, I want it to be true , I'm desperate for it to be true, but only time will tell.
Marsh
Guest
Neil Craig is a dead man walking.
Mattay
Guest
Craig's position is still one of the most secure in the AFL. Don't think there will be any sackings this season to be honest. Clarkson and Craig are underperforming but have runs on the board and the backing of their respective clubs. Worsfold may be looked at (though I don't know what the general feeling is in the West) but I expect West Coast to come good a bit later in the year.
Hazey the Bear
Roar Rookie
Yeah, definitely Worsfold, Craig and Clarkson are under the pump - probably Worsfold most of all... There's a lot of divided opinion in the West about whether Woosha is the man for the job. The toughness aura that he brought to the role has all but gone, and he insists on much-maligned tactics. Skills and fitness are way down, and we're still looking for answers (apparently NicNat is not enough!). One of the main criticisms is that with the team West Coast had back in the glory days of 05/06, Woosha should have been able to come away from those seasons with more than one premiership. That's probably debatable - I'd say that while the midfield was the arguably the best in the comp, the forward line was dodgy - but it's certainly a point of view which has many West Coast fans baying for blood...