The heat went up a notch on Adelaide coach Neil Craig and Melbourne counterpart Dean Bailey after bad AFL losses this weekend.
The Crows, Demons and Western Bulldogs all have only three wins after 10 rounds, but at least the ‘Dogs showed improvement in Sunday’s 29-point twilight loss to Hawthorn.
A week after their 123-point thumping from West Coast, the Bulldogs showed more resistance as the Hawks won 13.13 (91) to 9.8 (62).
While the pressure stays on Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade, at least his team was competitive.
By contrast, Craig and Bailey were left ruing lame efforts by their teams.
Crows fans abused Craig at the end of Sunday’s upset 40-point loss at home to Brisbane, who won their second straight game after starting the season with seven losses.
On Friday night, Melbourne never looked liked challenging in-form Carlton as the Blues cruised to a 47-point win.
The Lions’ 15.11 (101) to 8.13 (61) win left Adelaide with only three wins from nine games, while the Demons are also languishing on three wins and a draw.
By contrast, Carlton’s 13.15 (93) to 6.10 (46) win put them in the top four.
Eade and Bailey are among seven coaches out of contract at the end of this season.
“I am not here for social approval,” Craig said post-match.
“I’m here to do a job with this team and be very strong with this team and expect this team to perform at a high level … I’m not backing off on that, I ain’t backing on that – very high standards stay.
“And if that puts pressure back on me, so be it … but I ain’t backing off.”
Craig was also coming out of contract this year, but Adelaide took him off his contract and made him a member of staff, partly to ease speculation about his future.
Still, the loss was the latest in several woeful efforts by Adelaide this season.
Also on Sunday, reigning premiers Collingwood swatted away West Coast’s challenge at the MCG.
The Eagles were rated a chance but the magpies easily won 16.9 (105) to 7.11 (53).
Unbeaten Geelong spoiled the Gold Coast party on Saturday night as the Suns christened their redeveloped Carrara home.
Gold Coast led early and Gary Ablett had a solid hitout against his old team, but the Cats were too strong and ran away in the second half for a 66-point win.
Steve Johnson kicked a career-best seven goals in the 21.13 (139) to 10.13 (73) result.
North Melbourne’s inaccuracy and below-par skills again cost them on Saturday at Etihad Stadium as Sydney won by a single point.
The Swans remain the masters of the tight contest, winning 10.12 (72) to 9.17 (71).
In a round notable for upsets, last-placed Port Adelaide were superb in Darwin at Richmond’s expense.
Once some problems with the ground’s light towers were rectified, the Port powered to a 13.11 (89) to 10.14 (74) win, only their second of the season.
St Kilda were outstanding on Saturday afternoon in Perth, overcoming several injuries to beat Fremantle by 46 points, 15.12 (102) to 7.14 (56).
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Plenty of mayo on this one from the Norm Smith Medallist!
Apart from one five-goal game, GWS forward Toby Greene has only kicked six goals from the other eight games. He's traditionally had success against the Western Bulldogs.
Bayley Fritsch should become an even more important player from a structural perspective, given key forward Jacob van Rooyen will be unavailable due to concussion.
Kane Cornes was trying to highlight Adelaide's problem with intercept marks, but Hutchy saw it as another attack on Tex Walker.
Tom Hawkins returns to familiar surroundings of Geelong - but is it the tonic he needs to regain some of his confidence back after a goalless four games.
