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.
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.
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.
Assad
Guest
Bolton is the biggest megadud amateur coach ever seen in AFL history!! The Blues will be DEREGSTERED permanently after he leads them to an abysmal 0 wins in 2019 GUARANTEED!!
Realist
Guest
Richmond had no new assistants this year compared to last year. This list is based on this year only not the last two years combined as you are trying to make it Cat. So therefore the premise put forward by "Neil from Warrandyte" is spot on!
Yorkeys
Guest
Richo has to be last, your rationalisation is so wrong, perhaps you are a personal friend. If there was lower than last he would need to be ranked there. He is running at less than 20% wins and declining, fifth year, was forced to play new chaps and then reluctantly, but suddenly we see Pierce, Marshall and Battle have a lot of talent, sticks with proven failures and a hopeless tactical approach. Will not survive till round 4 next year if he does not negotiate a low key release. Style causes turnovers and injuries - just hopeless. So lucky a fool extended him.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
I rate entertainment factor in coaches box and also style at pressers as well as posts above. Also how clean a team is when in possession seems to be the best indication of unity. So who was the cleanest in possession reflects on the coach (and club). I know Cats were beaten by Richmond when we had the bulk of the play. Coaches I like Ken Hinkley, Chris and Brad Scott, Ross Lyon (like a villain), This is probably the best collection of coaches ever given all the different qualities they must possess to help foster these elite youth of Australian sport.
Tricky
Guest
"but the Magpies have possibly the best cattle in the competition" I stopped reading here
Dema
Guest
Goodwin is not a good coach period! We have ridiculous talent and depth like no other team. In terms of gameday coaching if you actually watch the games he is nearly always out-coached. Lewis in the backline is a terrible move - too slow, too many turnovers where as in the midfield he is still a good player. We have too many fringe/depth players and no one has a clue who the best 22 is. 17 spots are automatic and then 5 spots for 12 players = pissed off players (injuries have masked it so far). Goodwin needs to package (trade) a few a get another class player.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
So Buckley was marked down because Collingwood should have finished higher last year? Imagine this, you get you final exam paper back and have a great set of marks but don't get into university because you could have done better the year before. Do you for a moment think that boat would float? (Actually, that explanation might explain a large part of my own education.) By most pundits picks, Collingwood has finished 8 positions above their predicted position on the ladder. (The only person I know who correctly predicted this on record was Peter the Scribe, who got no end of stick for being one-eyed and beyond an idiot!) Logically, your are saying that the problem with everyone's predictions is that they didn't understand how good Collingwood's list was ?????!!... Frankly, it doesn't really matter, because Buckley and his team have over seen the largest jump in the end of the home and away season position of any club. Ask what is it that made the difference and how was Buckley not responsible? As I suggested below pick your criteria carefully and apply them robustly across the field. To do otherwise is comparing oranges and apples.
Papa Joe
Roar Rookie
I think you've nailed it Cat, though I personally would have Bolton in the bottom four instead of Worsfold. The Blues have a few quality players, but an unfathomable game style. And Worsfold did get his team purring eventually.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
The season's not over - the coach of the finals will finish top of the heap IMO
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
You downgrade the Pies performance because you consider we have a great list and yet Dimma is coach of the year? You acknowledge Simpson for coping with second half season loss of Nic Nat and Gaff and yet fail to acknowledge the Pies lost Moore, Howe, Scharenberg, Goldsack, Dunn and Reid from our defence?
IAP
Guest
Clearly Ross Lyon is the worst coach in the league. His gameplan was old 10 years ago. And Adam Simpson doesn't have a plan B, so I don't know why he's so high; he loses two forwards and the team turns to garbage. That's not a good coach.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The Pies haven't been in finals for four years, finished 13th last year and have been acknowledged as at the least being in the three worst hit clubs by injury. Buckley then had to manage the De Goey early season discretion, the ensuing contract talk about him and Moore and pulled the Pies to third. Your argument would be against most media who have Buckley either one or two for 2018.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
The Magpies have a lot of depth in their squad and good assistant coaches this year. I still feel that the Magpies should have finished higher last season as they had a good list then as well. Simpson had Naitanui injured as well as Kennedy, Darling and Lecras and Gaff was suspended late in the season. Dimma kept the same system even when Cotchin, Lambert, Nankervis and Houli were out and it’s tough to back up from a premiership. Martin, Riewoldt and Edwards and others still played at a high level; 8 players in the All Australian squad is testament to Dimma as a coach. Clarkson had Mcevoy out along with Sicily, Roughead, Burgoyne and Rioli at different times and lets not forget Birchall.
Cat
Roar Guru
Some credit maybe, not saying he drops to the bottom but the top coach just because his team sits top? No. There's also the fact that most of the credit for the Tiger turnaround is owed to the new assistants brought in, not Hardwick himself.
Tony
Guest
Rubbish, Buckley fifth you have to joking
Baz
Guest
For me, hats off for Alistair Clarkson yet again. top 4 for Hawks is amazing considering what they lost.
Neil from Warrandyte
Roar Rookie
“Hardwick way too high. Sure his team is on top but where should have it been?” I think most people pre season had the tigers faltering as not being able to withstand the challenges of being the hunted. Most considered the tigers simply got lucky, not really that good and would be found out with a harder draw. Credit has to be given to Hardwick for proving the doubters wrong.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Good post Mr Toad worthy of an article in itself.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I can’t split Clarkson and Buckley... Probably bucks slightly in front due to huge injury till he’s had to deal with. Brad Scott third for mine. Most had North bottom 4, but they competed all year. For me bottom three would be Richardson, Worsfold and Hinkley. Three sides who have all under achieved well below expectations.
BackYard Centurion
Guest
Have to agree with you on all this Cat - Perhaps Fagan just outside that top 4 group of yours. What he has done with that group is great.