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WHICH senior coach is under most pressure for his team to perform in 2015?
It's a complex question that takes in contract situations, runs on the board, and – in the case of Paul Roos, who will hand over the reins at Melbourne in two seasons – coaches' future plans.
Three senior coaches lost their jobs at the end of 2014 – two with two years to run on their deals (Brendan McCartney and Brenton Sanderson) and one who had signed an extension for one year only six months before he was booted (Guy McKenna).
The year a coach comes out of contract is clearly no longer the point of pressure.
AFL.com.au has assessed the state of play for the League's 18 coaches as one enters a crucial contract year and 10 others enter the second last season of their current deals.
PHIL WALSH: ADELAIDE
Out of contract: 2017
Win/loss: N/A
The former Power assistant still claims some anonymity in Adelaide, but that will change in 2015. Appointed in October last year on a three-year contract, Walsh is expected to add a hard edge to the Crows, with stories already filtering out of West Lakes about his exacting standards – right down to a player's choice of socks at the Crows' AGM. First-year coaches are rightly given leeway to mould the team in their image but Walsh is also expected by the club to deliver an immediate return to finals. The Crows don't tolerate mediocrity, as seen by their willingness to move Brenton Sanderson out of the job after three seasons.
Pressure rating: 3/5
JUSTIN LEPPITSCH: BRISBANE LIONS
Out of contract: 2016
Win/loss: 7-15
The second-year coach has taken a pragmatic approach to his contract talks, declaring an extension on his initial three-year deal was the last thing on his mind. There was a suggestion in March that the Lions were keen to open discussions with Leppitsch, but the 39-year-old would rather assess his own performance before signing. It's a clear sign that the coach is backing his players to improve on 2014's seven wins, and he will be helped by an expanded support team that now includes a coach for every line. All signs point to an eventual extension for the club champion.
Pressure rating: 2/5
MICK MALTHOUSE: CARLTON
Out of contract: 2015
Win/loss: 405-298-7
The veteran coach will be widely celebrated this year as he breaks Jock McHale's long-standing coaching record. Attention, however, will quickly shift to the Blues' long-term plans and whether the 61-year-old will be offered an extension beyond this year. President Mark LoGiudice has been steadfast that the club won't start discussions with Malthouse until the second half of the season. Pressure will come from many angles for the Blues to make a change if the team, which won just seven games last season, is not playing off in September.
Pressure rating: 5/5
NATHAN BUCKLEY: COLLINGWOOD
Out of contract: 2016
Win/loss: 42-28
Buckley's record at Collingwood, which has worsened in each of his three seasons, has resulted in pressure on the coach 12 months ahead of schedule. The Magpies won 17 games and played in a preliminary final in 2012, Buckley's first year in charge, but they were bundled out of the finals in week one the next year, winning 14 games. In 2014, Collingwood missed the finals for the first time since 2005. Buckley's future hinges on the Magpies showing faith in the coach's long-term direction as he continues to rebuild the Magpies in his own mould.
Pressure rating: 4/5
Nathan Buckley's future hinges on the club backing his long-term vision. Picture: AFL Media
JAMES HIRD: ESSENDON
Out of contract: 2016
Win/loss: 36-30-1
The Bombers surprised the football world by extending Hird's contract by two years when he was banned from the game for 12 months in late 2013. Facing an uncertain future before his players were cleared by the Anti-Doping Tribunal, Hird can now get on with the business of coaching with a full-strength team. The Dons lost an elimination final under Mark Thompson last season but they have the talent to go further. He has fought tooth and nail for his position; the next step for Hird is to deliver a finals win for the first time since 2004.
Pressure rating: 4/5
ROSS LYON: FREMANTLE
Out of contract: 2017
Win/loss: 125-64-5
Regarded as having one of the sharpest tactical minds in the game, Lyon signed an initial four-year deal with Fremantle and extended that by two years in March, 2014. You suspect any pressure the coach is feeling this year would only be created by his own demands. There is, however, pressure on Fremantle to strike with what could be its last chance with veterans Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands and Luke McPharlin in the team. Lyon has confidence in the young players at his disposal, but a mini rebuild would likely take place following the departure of those club champions. It's not clear at this point if Lyon will be the man to lead that rebuild after a senior coaching career as a 'finisher'.
Pressure rating: 3/5
CHRIS SCOTT: GEELONG
Out of contract: 2017
Win/loss: 73-24
You wouldn't know it by simply looking at Scott's win-loss record (73-24), but Geelong has been rebuilding under the four-year coach. The 38-year-old has introduced 22 debutants since taking over for the 2011 season and winning a premiership in year one. Since then, however, the Cats have won just one of six finals. That experience puts Scott's players in the unique position of playing finals through a rebuild and any drop off from the Cats would not be expected to last long. If Scott is under any pressure, it is because every year it is pondered, 'Will this be the year the Cats finally drop off?'
Pressure rating: 2/5
RODNEY EADE: GOLD COAST
Out of contract: 2017
Win/loss: 169-141-4
While most coaches walk into a new club with a rebuilding brief, Eade has been tasked with taking the Suns to the Promised Land soon. He takes over a list boasting 13 first-round selections, including seven who have now had four years in the system. That – and the other talent access, pre-selection and trade incentive selections they boast – has the rest of the competition fearing what the Suns will be capable of when they approach their peak. Eade t0ok the Western Bulldogs to three losing preliminary finals between 2008-10, but he spent 2012-14 out of the coaching caper as Collingwood's director of football. The expectations are high in his first year back, with anything other than a maiden finals appearance likely to be seen as falling short.
Pressure rating: 2/5
LEON CAMERON: GWS
Out of contract: 2016
Win/loss: 6-16
Cameron was first appointed at GWS in October 2012, spending his first season as an assistant under Kevin Sheedy before taking the reins last year. The Giants are theoretically 12 months behind Gold Coast in their development and would need to win 10 games this season to claim parity with the Suns' progress. Trade acquisitions Ryan Griffen and Joel Patfull will make the Giants more competitive this year and the 100-point thrashings that have happened in each of their three seasons will no longer be written off as growing pains. Development will remain a priority for Cameron, with youngsters like Lachie Whitfield, Dylan Shiel and Josh Kelly holding the key to the club's long-term future.
Pressure rating: 2/5
Leon Cameron will still have development as a priority in 2015. Picture: AFL Media
ALASTAIR CLARKSON: HAWTHORN
Out of contract: 2016
Win/loss: 144-88-1
With three premierships in 10 years, Clarkson has become the most respected coach in the game. There is pressure to deliver when you have the most feared team in the competition, but if the Hawks fall short this season it is unlikely to be because Clarkson hasn't delivered on his side of the bargain. After implementing 'Clarko's Cluster' and a high-retention style that other teams have attempted to mimic, he's a coach who stays ahead of the game and 2015 should be no different.
Pressure rating: 1/5
PAUL ROOS: MELBOURNE
Out of contract: 2016
Win/loss: 120-102-2
Roos is entering his second last season as senior coach, with the expectation now that he prepares a competitive team for Simon Goodwin to take full control of in 2017. The 2005 premiership coach took up his option for a third year in charge halfway through last year, but the season ended poorly for his team with 10 straight losses. He faces a significant task in 2015, implementing a more attacking game style while preventing blowout losses. Roos is prioritising Melbourne's long-term interests, but supporter patience will be tested if the Dees don't take a step forward from last year's four wins and 17th place finish.
Pressure rating: 1/5
BRAD SCOTT: NORTH MELBOURNE
Out of contract: 2016
Win-loss: 61-53
Scott was the most secure AFL coach when he signed a long-term extension in February 2013. It was a bold move then by the club, which had played in just one final under Scott in three seasons and would finish 10th in 2013. Their charge into a preliminary final last year, however, has the Kangaroos primed as a flag contender in 2015, with Scott in a position to show his wares with an elite group at his disposal. A big year for North Melbourne would cement a long-term future for its 38-year-old coach.
Pressure rating: 3/5
KEN HINKLEY: PORT ADELAIDE
Out of contract: 2018
Win/loss: 29-19
Hinkley is the most secure coach in the AFL after signing a two-year contract extension in March, despite having two seasons to run on his previous deal. It's a sign of how valuable he is to Port after orchestrating a remarkable turnaround at the club in two years. Named the AFLCA's coach of the year in 2013, Hinkley's success has driven change in the industry. No longer are star players recently out of the game parachuted into senior coaching jobs; long-time assistants such as Hinkley, with broad experience, are most sought after. While the Power are sure to contend this year, the luxury Hinkley has is a young list that is probably not yet at its peak.
Pressure rating: 1/5
Ken Hinkley is the AFL's most secure coach. Picture: AFL Media
DAMIEN HARDWICK: RICHMOND
Out of contract: 2016
Win/loss: 51-59-2
This is a crucial year for Hardwick, who led the Tigers out of a dark period but now needs his team to deliver on the finals stage. His win-loss record improved every year before 2014, but a disastrous 3-10 start to last year's campaign was the toughest period in Hardwick's five years. His tactical nous in big games will be under the spotlight at a time when winning finals is the Tigers' new benchmark.
Pressure rating: 4/5
ALAN RICHARDSON: ST KILDA
Out of contract: 2016
Win/loss: 4-19
Richardson's second season in charge will need to be judged on criteria other than wins and losses. Internally, there is an acceptance that 2015 will be another long slog, with the club's list build to start bearing fruit in 2016. A lot of Richardson efforts will be put into setting an elite culture at St Kilda, and he has runs on the board with what he achieved alongside Ken Hinkley at Port Adelaide. His biggest challenge on field will be balancing the need to hone his game-plan with young players while minimising the damage that could be done on the scoreboard.
Pressure rating: 1/5
JOHN LONGMIRE: SYDNEY SWANS
Out of contract: 2017
Win/loss: 67-30-2
The premiership coach has been named coach of the year by his peers in two of the past three years (2012 and 2014). After Longmire inherited a defensive outfit in 2011, the Swans have lost none of their lockdown strength, ranking No. 1 in the AFL for points against in 2014. He has, however, lifted their average score significantly from 86 to 97.2 with a slingshot game style that few can match. His biggest test is devising a way to beat Hawthorn, which has had the Swans' measure in five of the past six games since the 2012 Grand Final.
Pressure rating: 1/5
ADAM SIMPSON: WEST COAST
Out of contract: 2016
Win/loss: 11-11
A crucial year for Simpson started in the worst possible fashion when his No. 1 defender Eric Mackenzie went down with a serious knee injury that has ruled him out for 2015. The Eagles have now missed the finals in five of the past seven seasons, an unheard of run at a proud club. The Eagles view themselves as being in a rebuild, but playing finals in 2015 is the expectation of an impatient supporter base. A mentor to Hawthorn's star-studded midfield when working under Alastair Clarkson, Simpson faces the challenge of lifting his on-ball division, which has been a weakness.
Pressure rating: 3/5
LUKE BEVERIDGE: WESTERN BULLDOGS
Out of contract: 2017
Win/loss: N/A
Beveridge was appointed St Kilda's director of coaching late last year, but vacated that position before he had started to accept the Bulldogs' top job. He fits what is now seen in the industry as the ideal model for a new senior coach, having coached his own team (St Bede's/Mentone in the VAFA) and held various assistant roles in the AFL over a significant period (with Collingwood and Hawthorn between 2009-14). He will enjoy a honeymoon period in 2015, and there is an acceptance the Dogs could take a small step backwards after losing their captain Ryan Griffen and senior players Adam Cooney and Shaun Higgins.
Pressure rating: 1/5
