How secure is every AFL coach?

I would just about put Chris Fagan in the 'No matter what, they’re safe' category. He has turned the club around, created one of the strongest club cultures in the competition, has young players constantly resigning, has attracted star players from other clubs (Charlie Cameron, Luke Hodge, Lachie Neale, Grant Birchall, Joe Daniher) and has improved every year going from 18th to 15th to a semi-final to a preliminary final. Sure, if the Lions bomb out next year and get the wooden spoon, questions would be asked about Chris Fagan's coaching but that would be the case with any Top Four team from the previous team. I mean, you would hope that a coach like Damien Hardwick has built enough goodwill that the Richmond hierarchy wouldn't sack him if the team fell apart, but that's a pretty extreme hypothetical and such a drastic turnaround would surely warrant investigation. Even though Fagan hasn't got the Premierships like Clarkson, Hardwick, Scott, and Simpson, he has remade the Lions at a faster rate than was thought possible and the culture seems to be at an upward trajectory. I know you are saying he's 99.9% safe, but I would apply that same logic to all the coaches in the untouchable category. As I alluded to, the bigger the fall the greater the questions. I think the biggest thing hanging over Fagan's head is how the team performs in big games, but he partially answered that with Brisbane's win over Richmond in the first week of finals. My concern is that this Brisbane team could be like GWS where they have a lot of upside but never quite fulfill their potential. Thing is, that will only really be proven with hindsight. As far as coaching appointments go, the board is mainly concerned with whether Brisbane looks competitive each year and are signing new members. The fact that they did one better in 2020 than they did in 2019 and have now added Joe Daniher in the off-season means there is every confidence that Brisbane is on an upward trajectory. Granted, in two or three years time, if Brisbane hasn't won a premiership or they have regressed then Fagan could come under pressure but, once again, it's hard to deal in hypotheticals. As it stands, I would say he is as safe (if not safer) than any of those coaches you put in your ultra safe category. The coach I would question in 'No matter what, they’re safe' is Chris Scott. He actually does seem to be the manifestation of that coach who, in hindsight, underachieved. He won a Premiership in his first year in 2011 (just how much that was his or a product of a super team that had won in 2007 and 2009) and has taken Geelong to consistent finals. Each year his team looks competitive and there is surely goodwill in the organization. But sooner or later, the question will be asked, when's he gonna get them another Premiership? He's in his tenth year and it's not like they haven't had the list or the opportunities. I'm not saying he's sacked but I think Geelong would be less willing to tolerate a minor regression (say they finish 5-8th) than Brisbane.

Buckley, should be in line of fire. It will come down to first several games, but if they are 2-4 after 6, then the press will take over. Plus new president.. means new team.., they will just be looking for a reason..

Perish the thought!!! ????????????

Who is this Ruckman Bell? James Bell is certainly no Ruckman. Sam Naismith (ACL), Callum Sinclair, Hayden McLean, Joel Amartey and Tom Hickey are the euckmen at Sydney. 2013 & 2015 were injury plagued for the Swans. 2016 was indeed a missed opportunity but as in 2014 the coaching staff selected players with little or no match fitness due to injury. In 2016 it was obvious Mills should not have played, same with McVeigh. So yes the coach is to blame for that. As to players not developing I think this is due more to injury and the inability of those players to rediscover form after injury. I think you are a bit hard on Ollie Florent. I think he was very good last year. The Sydney list is one of the most talented in the AFL. You seem to also have selective memory. Sydney lost several key players to injury, Buddy, Heeney, Rampe, Hewett, Naismith (by far the best ruck St Swans) and Kennedy for about 6 matches. This loss of experience was devastating for such a young group and while it gave the coaches a chance to blood young talent it was not good for the win loss ratio. All those players will return this season. If of course they can get Buddy's body right, after all he must be nearly 100 by now lol. Add a young key forward and two talented kids from the Academy as well as last year's draft crop including Will Gould and this is an exciting time for Sydney. But as you say Reid was incredibly disappointing. You are right in asserting Longmire needs the team to climb the ladder. I think he doesn't just need to be a couple of places better off he needs this team to be vying for a top eight spot. A ladder slide would indeed see the Horse in the glue pot. In saying that I don't think that is on the cards with Don Pyke and Ben Matthews joining the coaching panel.

All three wins were that emphatic it's way too simplistic to attribute them all to one player. Sure, Dusty is a great player and really steps up in big games but it still takes a team and a game plan. There were many more involved in those premierships than just those two. On and off the field.

I think Shiel is a very good midfielder and Merritt is virtually elite. He just isn't the same size as those mentioned. But if you add McGrath and Heppel it's good enough. Langford got better last year, Smith will be back to his best and Stringer looks much fitter to pinch hit in the middle. Caldwell will be a beauty too. If theres a proper game plan the Bombers will do ok in 2021.

Totally agree with everything you said except....if Truck doesn't develop an actual game plan, them the quality of the list will be irrelevant because last year it was go sideways, backwards, clueless anywhere but going for a goal. The players had no idea and neither did the fans. Especially disastrous considering the Bombers had the 2 best attacking back men in the league and still played that shocking game style. Let's hope for better this year.

I dont think tge list has changed that much from the one that made finals the year before. So I dont expect them to finish bottom 4. Their defence has 2 aging stars but with guys like Ridley coming through id say their defence, on paper, is very good. As I mentioned apart from Saad they really didn't lose any playing players. Although Worsfold was the coach, the entire game plan and strategy last year was Ruttens and it was a basket case. He needs to come up with something fast or the Bombers, even if they get a great list, will be going nowhere.

@Aransan; I like Peter Wright, he'll be an improvement on a player that couldn't play due to injuries, Sam Draper looks the goods absolutely but I can't see any outstanding players in the essendon midfield, Sheil is probably your best and he doesn't compare to some of the comps best midfielders, Bontempelli, Cripps, Fyfe, Martin Neale, Mitchell, Petracca, Kelly, The other better Kelly. Dangerfield. there is no Essendon midfielder that ranks with the elite for mine. It comes across as working class although you're welcome to prove me wrong.

I'd move Buckley into the line of fire, inherited a ruthless and intimidating team, destructed it, then instructed Dekka Hine to recruit mid types for his game style. We only saw it with any consistency for one year. The rest of his tenure has been disappointing to say the least. If it were up to me, it's flag or door for Buckley. Same pressure as Cameron for mine, a list like no one has seen before yet no flag, should have two by now.

One can only hope

If Geelong follow the lead of Adelaide and GWS and miss finals the year after Richmond beat them in the GF Scott will be gone .

Melbourne would have made the finals had they actually taken their ability with them to Cairns and beaten one of Freo or Sydney, both teams below them on the ladder and out of finals contention. This is Melbournes issue and it has been an issue for as long as I can remember reguardless of who at the time has been coach - they have a good win or a handful of good wins to get themselves in a strong position then blow it by losing games that should be comfortable wins.

Given where they are coming from they could improve significantly and still finish bottom

No meaningful finals appearance = Simon Goodwin is shown the door. I have no faith in him at all.

Worsfold and Rutton had conflicting philosophies not especially due to the game plan. Under Worsfold it was more up to the individual player with respect to their motivation but under Rutton individuals had to adapt to the role they were given. This caused confusion with the players, that won’t be a problem this year. Essendon lost Daniher and Fantasia who contributed little over the previous 3 and 2 years respectively. Daniher has been replaced by Peter Wright and he will be good. Essendon’s midfield is better than generally believed, they have young Sam Draper who is ready to fire in the ruck. Saad is a loss, don’t be surprised if Hind develops into a good player in a similar role. Essendon will be better than last year, Wright will make a big difference to the forward line however they are in rebuild phase. I would be happy with them finishing mid-table.

Hi Rhys, Bevo under the pump really? Unfortunately since premiership a lot of players either retired or left or prematurely retired due to injuries Which hurt Bevo ability to make a further run for more glory. Placing him on the cliff is a tad harsh but some external pressure won’t hurt his belief or the bulldog faithful in him rising from the ashes one more time!

Hawthorn and Alistair Clarkson there should be a under little more pressure Honestly 2020 taught us that hawthorn has to have to good backwards before they go forwards Wingard is a forward not a midfielder I know fans won't like my saying this but play a defensive brand of footy Why? If I look at hawthorn's list at the moment the best parts are defensively Sicily though injured, Impey , Frost had a solid year, Will day was great, scrimshaw, hardwick, Hartley, Hartigan , Kozitzche Denver grainier barrass damon greatest The best part of the list is the defence. Clarkson is a generally regarded as a better defensive coach than offensive theyres an old saying write what you know Clarkson and hawthorn should stick that on the wall if hawthorn want to be successful in 2021, the midfield has a sameness to it and is very overreliant on omeara Mitchell worpel offensively breust and gunston are the only ones you can rely on week in week out Kennett is a man that does not tolerate mediocrity All this on the internet 'hawthorn has no defenders', 'oh no Sicily no hawthorn defence' hawthorn have one of the best defences in the league in terms of depth With Sicily hardiwck hartigan Hartley Denver grainier barrass jeka kozitche as all key defenders considering geelong only have Henderson blicavs de koning and kolodjashni can play tall

I do agree about Stuart dew while Tony Cochran has been very supportive of dew still if you look at his record from Rd 8 onwards its not the best I want to see gold coast played a full proper year of football Not this trope of rounds 1-4 play great, rds 5-8 play good and the rest kind of just stop That trope is annoying and unsatisfying for fans and supporters it gives a false sense of hope North Melbourne were on top of the ladder in 2016 after 8 rounds Football is a marathon not a sprint With Rowell, Anderson, Ellis, greenwood, Atkins, swallow, miller, Hollands and a forward line with Ben King and Izak rankine they have no more excuses not to play competitive football week in week out im not saying they have to play finals they need to play consistent and competitive football

Scary logos win premierships, seems legit :thumbup: