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My coaching ladder for 2018

29th August, 2018
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Coach of the Tigers, Damien Hardwick. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Roar Guru
29th August, 2018
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1121 Reads

Thanks to the coaches, the 2018 season was one of the most exciting and competitive years in recent AFL history. The football played was of a high standard for the most part so here is how I ranked the coaches based on their overall performance.

1. Damien Hardwick (Richmond Tigers) – Richmond were the best team in the competition in the regular season. No matter who is in the Tigers line-up, they don’t deviate from the gameplan.

2. Adam Simpson (West Coast Eagles) – Despite losing Nic Naitanui and Andrew Gaff the West Coast Eagles managed to finish second on the ladder. Chris Masten and Jack Redden, along with Scott Lycett, rejuvenated their careers – and Simpson certainly has to be given credit for that.

3. Simon Goodwin (Melbourne Demons) – The Demons did well to ensure that they will host a home final. Goodwin isn’t only a quality coach and person, but endearing in the manner in which he comes across in the media. This is good for the Demons’ brand.

4. Alistair Clarkson (Hawthorn Hawks) – Hawthorn appear to be in a precarious position, but the master coach managed to get them into the top four with the Hawks winning the last six games of the season.

5. Nathan Buckley (Collingwood Magpies) – I’m not knocking Nathan Buckley as a coach, but the Magpies have possibly the best cattle in the competition. Because of that, he is fifth on the list.

6. Luke Beveridge (Western Bulldogs) – The Bulldogs were outstanding this season. Even more impressive considering that they were undermanned. They had a long injury list but still managed to perform admirably.

7. Leon Cameron (GWS Giants) – The Giants sometimes better than any other team in the competition when they played their best footy. Unfortunately, they battled to get their best team on the park.

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8. John Longmire (Sydney Swans) – It was a good solid season from the Swans. At times they promised so much, but on other occasions they were underwhelming. They were beaten by Gold Coast, yet they still have a mathematical chance to win the premiership. Round 23 showed how much they rely on Lance Franklin and Luke Parker.

9. Brad Scott (North Melbourne Kangaroos) – The Kangaroos looked like they were a contender at one point, but they would be disappointed with missing the finals. Their lack of depth was exposed. At times Brad Scott was outstanding as a coach, but on other occasions against Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs, they were poorly coached.

10. John Worsfold (Essendon Bombers) – The Bombers were probably the best team that finished outside of the top eight. Though well coached at times, they would be disappointed with some of their paltry performances where Worsfold failed to make moves.

11. Chris Scott (Geelong Cats) – The Cats failed to perform to a level that they were truly capable of playing at which shows that they weren’t coached to a high enough standard.

12. Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide Power) – At one stage, the Power had a chance to make the top four with a fairly mediocre back six, however, their finish to the season was deplorable.

13. Chris Fagan (Brisbane Lions) – Earlier in the season it appeared as if Fagan would be lucky to keep his job, but in the second half of the year it appeared as if the future looks bright for Brisbane in terms of their execution of the game plan is concerned.

14. Alan Richardson (St Kilda Saints) – Richardson did not have much to work with. All things considered, four wins and a draw is a pass. The coach did the best he possibly could with the players he had on the field.

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15. Don Pyke (Adelaide Crows) – Adelaide went from making the grand final to finishing twelfth. Adelaide didn’t play to their capability this season, which is a reflection on Pyke as a coach. His behaviour left a lot to be desired when he failed to communicate with his players at three-quarter time in a game when they were mauled by the Demons.

16. Stuart Dew (Gold Coast Suns) – Four wins is a respectable result for the Suns considering the minimal amount of talent on their list.

17. Ross Lyon (Fremantle Dockers) – The Dockers have a good list with a few poor players on their team. I expected them to play a better brand of footy than what they did this season.

18. Brendon Bolton (Carlton Blues) – The Blues failed to play to an acceptable standard as they showed a lack of application and execution. Bolton’s days as an AFL coach are numbered which can be highlighted by him failing to select Harry Mckay and Sam Kerridge when they are definitely in the Blues’ best 22.

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