Isn't it a little early to start coach bashing?

isn't it always coach bashing time?

I think HS do pay for Robbo to be on 360. Reading between the lines when Caroline Wilson was interviewed on Open Mike - she was offered the HS Chief Football Writer position first and would have "had a significant presence of Fox Footy" according to Mike Sheahan. So not only was Robbo not the HS first choice as Chief, he also got a shoe-in for 360!

The reason why Buckley's in a different boat was written in the article. "Nathan Buckley and his team have won three matches in 15 rounds"

Asher I can see why you respect Robbo's style. Your article similarly lacks analytical detail. I share your concerns about Buckley but you could have explored why his team is struggling. Buckley's communication style is probably part of the problem and his forward set-up looks incoherent. But another part is simply that the Pies haven't recruited particularly skilled young players. Recruiting Taylor Adams, Levi Greenwood and Jack Crisp all to replace Luke Ball has left us struggling for midfield skill (especially with Pendlebury injured and Sidebottom missing games due to suspension). The Pies belatedly realised this gap and recruited two more skilled midfielders (Aish from Brisbane and Treloar from GWS) after last season. Similarly, our backline lacks a Robert Murphy/ Nick Malceski type in contrast to the Suns, who recently picked up two highly skilled young defenders in Koljasni and Saad. We may stay outside the 8 for a couple more seasons while we fix this skill deficit. Give us analysis, not opinions.

Surely no-one still thinks Malthouse should be at Collingwood.

cant believe you actually committed to words that you value Mark Robinsons opinion....they guy is deluded...he thinks he is a media personality that everyone admires, the only people that like him are his employers who value extra sales on the back of his sensationlised tabloid rubbish. Robinson is a blight on the game and Fox need their heads read for allowing him on 360, maybe HS paid his way? The backlash is coming and he might not have a career in a few years

Robbo is great if you just want to read a Dennis Denudo style vibe piece, short on facts and details, but supported by lots of emotive language (one writer here called them feelpinions) and plenty of moral handwringing. Otherwise though he’s an embarrassment, a walking talking caricature of a lot that is wrong with AFL media.

"I respect Robbo’s opinion and value his outlook on football..." With all due respect, surely you cannot be serious? Mark Robinson meanders his way through analysis, making statements not so much backed up by evidence so much as they are assumed to be self evident, is blatantly biased in his opinions - regardless of whether you agree with them or not - and is clearly a creature of Australian journalism, and their low ethical standards with regards to what constitutes all due evidence or the public interest. I hope you were being somewhat disingenuous with the above quote, but in case you weren't, I suggest you actually read Mark Robinson's articles or watch his show for a sample of his journalism. Afterwards, perhaps your perspective on him will be different; at least, I hope so.

Much as I don't like some of the coaches involved, the montage of coaches under pressure made me feel very uncomfortable. The strain on some of them whose teams are not meeting expectations was palpable. I trust they are getting the support that they need.

Do you really think they should still have Mick? Buckley is more secure than Hinkley. Buckley is shaping a team of kids. Hinkley seems to have lost his way with a team of stars. We all saw how quickly Kochie and co all turned on each other last week. Their Chinese Masters won't accept that.

I was on board until the writer said he respected Mark Robinson's opinion. It's true though. It's obviously premature to be talking about coaches under pressure, or it should be at least. It's all part of the pantomime of the footy media exaggerating every narrative.

Seriously? Your title says it's too early for coach bashing, then you go ahead and do it yourself. The whole thing seems just an excuse to have a go at Nathan Buckley. He's the only person you've tagged, and the only one that according to you can't turn the fortunes of his team around. While that certainly might be the case and you have every right to express your opinion, at least try not contradicting yourself in the process. From the title I assumed I was going to read something sensible, instead I just got to hear more inane Buckley bashing, with absolutely nothing other than a win loss record from the last 15 games to back it up.

Mick Malthouse they startted to bash from about round 2 last year and he went after round 8 and the pies have only won 3 of there last 15 if I remember correctly.

You're asking if it's too early to start coach-bashing - and then admit that one (Nathan Buckley) is deserving of it, whilst saying that with two others (Ken Hinkley and Hardwick) have had terrible starts to the season. Your gut feel might be that they will turn their seasons around (and yes, time will tell - see Richmond's 9-win run to the finals in 2014) but when you've got die-hard fans to deal with, putting pressure on coaches is fair enough in my book!

Short, sharp, and sweet...to the point. Yup, gotta agree, if only because it is early days into the 2016 home & away season. Lets see how this 'sprint' at the start of the season pans out. Injuries, suspensions etc. As always, it'll be a battle of attrition...last man standing stuff. This season apart from all others has shifted the 'game', maybe some astute coaches read this early on, and others maybe just behind the 'drag' curve. Quote "The only coach in the league that deserves the pressure is Nathan Buckley, it is clear that the Eddie McGuire succession plan has not worked." Unquote. If anyone is under the pump, it's gotta be Eddie! Normally, a fairly erudite business (lets face it AFL is a business) man, this one I reckon he 'jumped' too early