JUSTIN Leppitsch is unsure whether he will see out his contract as Brisbane Lions coach but claims the criteria he's being judged on "shifted" three weeks ago from long-term development to his win-loss ratio.
Leppitsch has coached the Lions since taking over from former teammate Michael Voss at the end of 2013.
After leading the Lions to finishes of 15th, 17th and 17th in that time with just 14 wins from 66 matches, the three-time premiership defender is highly unlikely to continue next year despite being contracted.
The Lions board is expected to announce Leppitsch's fate on Monday.
If Leppitsch shares the widespread view the board will announce his departure, he took the opportunity to take a parting shot after his team's 58-point loss to St Kilda on Sunday.
"I don't have a gut feel, I don't know (what the board's decision will be). I suppose the messaging throughout the year has been long term throughout the footy club, apart from three weeks ago," Leppitsch said.
"Every moment before that to me (there) hasn't been a win-loss ratio component to me keeping my job, but obviously things have shifted the last couple of weeks.
"So I'm uncertain as to what has transpired."
Five talking points: St Kilda v Brisbane Lions
Leppitsch suggested he would have taken a shorter-term focus at last year's trade and free agency periods if he had known the Lions' win-loss record in 2016 would be crucial to him retaining his position.
"I guess as a coach all you're asking for is what are you being assessed on, that's it," Leppitsch said.
"If it was win-loss this year I would have traded probably the first pick. You would do other things, wouldn't you?
"We went hard for (free agent Matthew) Suckling and then dropped off at the end because he was a bit older for our plans, so you would probably pursue that and you would do other things that give you that chance of upping the win-loss ratio.
"We actually traded picks for future picks for this year [in the James Aish trade]. No doubt (we) wouldn't have done that either.
"It's just knowing where you stand and what your KPIs are, that's the most important thing."
Leppitsch hoped the Lions board would make a call on his future soon, saying everyone at the club needed to move on one way or the other.
But the Lions coach felt he had fulfilled his fundamental job requirement over the past three years of introducing young talent to the club and retaining those players.
Leppitsch said his presentation to the Lions board last week had envisaged the next three years being about developing those players and getting the club in a position to return to the finals.
Click here for Justin Leppitsch's full media conference
"I'm a big believer it will probably take another three years to get to the starting blocks of finals," Leppitsch said.
Leppitsch was adamant he was a far better coach than when he started at the Lions, but expected to be judged more harshly than other coaches who had presided over difficult 2016 seasons like Essendon's John Worsfold and Fremantle's Ross Lyon.
"I don't have the credibility of those coaches, there's no doubt and (I) can't afford probably the luxuries they have," Leppitsch said.
"That's probably the parting question. We're all in the same boat as footy clubs as far as needing to play your talent and grow it."
