ADELAIDE
Brenton Sanderson
The club was rocked by several factors out of Sanderson's control, most of which were linked to the departure of Kurt Tippett. Tippett's defection alone severely hurt Adelaide's structure, but the suspensions of CEO Steven Trigg and footy manager Phil Harper for salary cap breaches exaggerated the impact. The loss of assistant coach Dean Bailey for his role in Melbourne's tanking saga was a massive hit to the club and when you then consider the long-term injuries to Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins – Sanderson didn't stand much of a chance in 2013. His prediction that the playing group was ready for increased expectation might have been proven incorrect and although it's been a disastrous year in many respects there was enough to suggest the side will bounce back. - Harry Thring

BRISBANE LIONS
Michael Voss/Mark Harvey
The Lions board clearly didn't rate Voss' season, but from the outside he did an adequate job. In retrospect the first six weeks cost him though as the Lions dropped winnable games and slumped to a 2-4 win-loss record. Upset wins over Essendon and Geelong temporarily kept the wolves at bay and Voss looked safe for an extension when the Lions rallied in the final 10 weeks. Some players developed (Hanley, Leuenberger, Golby, Harwood, Yeo), but inconsistency killed Voss in the end. Harvey had late success with two wins and a heartbreaking loss against Geelong, but admitted Voss had laid the groundwork. With most experienced coaches already pulling out of the race to take the head role, the next mentor looks like being an untried assistant. - Michael Whiting

Michael Voss failed to see out the year, replaced by Mark Harvey after round 20.  Picture: AFL Media

CARLTON
Mick Malthouse
The three-time premiership coach joined the Blues amid much fanfare and hopes that he would immediately return the club to the top four for the first time since 2000. Theoretically, Malthouse can still drag them that far into September, and a win this week would go some way towards meeting pre-season expectations, although it would be by default given Carlton was the beneficiary of Essendon's ejection from the finals. Even allowing for the Malthouse teething period, overall it has been a surprisingly underwhelming season for a club that urgently needs to capitalise on the services of veteran superstar Chris Judd. Malthouse had trouble implementing his initial game plan, but enjoyed better results when he tweaked it to better suit the capabilities of his playing list. Just how deeply he cuts into that list will indicate how far away he believes the Blues are from a premiership tilt. - Ben Collins

COLLINGWOOD
Nathan Buckley
It has been a mixed bag for Nathan Buckley in his second year in the Collingwood hot seat. At times the Pies have looked like world-beaters, at other points of the season they have looked like minnows. Towards the business end of the season, though, Buckley's Pies have begun to find their groove. Injuries have been a limiting factor, but that has allowed the Magpies to blood eight debutants. Buckley has also stuck to his guns in introducing Leading Teams within the club - a program that has ruffled a few feathers during the year. He has not gifted games to veterans based on reputations, but rather made every player earn their games. A win against Port this week would guarantee a pass mark. - Ben Guthrie

ESSENDON
James Hird
It's tough to assess James Hird's role as coach at Essendon this season, given the tumultuous year the club endured, of which Hird was the centre of attention. On the field he did manage to keep his players calm, composed and confident, and they did play some imposing, courageous football through the year. Essendon also won the most games in a season since 2004, and it was clear Hird had instilled a defensive edge to the side. He also maintained a positive outlook at his many media appearances despite the scrutiny on his role as a part of the club's supplement saga. Assistant Simon Goodwin took over the role as senior coach against Richmond last week after Hird was suspended for 12 months from coaching by the AFL Commission. - Callum Twomey

FREMANTLE
Ross Lyon
The Fremantle coach has taken his team to another level in 2013 and regardless of how far the Dockers go in September he will be hard to beat as the AFL's coach of the year. There has been plenty of noise surrounding the Dockers draw but not much attention has been placed on the Dockers injury list. Lyon has lost Anthony Morabito, Kepler Bradley and Jon Griffin to knee reconstructions. Matthew Pavlich has played just nine matches, Aaron Sandilands eight and Luke McPharlin has missed the last eight and yet the Dockers finished comfortably in third. The Dockers are clearly the number one defence in the competition and they have added some scoring power as well. Lyon has developed an inner-belief in this group that has made them very hard to beat. - Alex Malcolm

Fremantle under Ross Lyon have continued to be supreme in defence. Picture: AFL Media

GEELONG
Chris Scott
A top two finish, in anyone's language, is a successful year. Scott's third year at the Cattery has been much the same as his first, and like the first, a premiership awaits if the Cats are good enough. Scott's policy of filtering youth into the side, to complement its ageing stars, is based on a long-term plan to always keep the club competitive. But the continued emergence of Steven Motlop, Mitch Duncan, and Allen Christensen has been a significant factor in the Cats being ready to pounce on another flag immediately. So not only has Scott got Geelong well placed for its fourth title in seven years, the list is strong and young and there seems little doubt the Cats will be competitive for some years to come. - Ben Guthrie  

GOLD COAST
Guy McKenna
Like his team, McKenna flew under the radar for much of 2013 as the Suns developed at a nice rate. McKenna tried a few positional switches with varied success, including Sam Day to a key defensive post, David Swallow to a half-back flank and Jarrod Harbrow to the midfield. These players may revert to their 'old' positions next year, but it continued an education for the Suns as they search for their best 22. McKenna showed his harder edge and was not afraid to drop experienced players, with Jared Brennan, Michael Rischitelli and Greg Broughton all axed at varying stages. The result was an excellent eight-win season with no blowouts that punctuated the previous two years. McKenna can expect a little more heat next season though as expectations rise on Gold Coast to make its first finals appearance. - Michael Whiting

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Kevin Sheedy
The 2013 season contained two elements for Kevin Sheedy – attempting to prepare his young charges for the years that lie ahead, while also juggling something of a farewell tour as his 29-year coaching career drew to a close. By giving Kristian Jaksch and James Stewart their debuts over the closing two weeks of the season, he achieved his stated goal of giving all his 2012 draftees a taste of senior football. That brought to 46 the number of Giants to play in the AFL this season alone. They only managed one victory, but Sheedy's legacy will become clearer in years to come and he has had an enormous impact on the competition's newest club. Incoming senior coach Leon Cameron did take the majority of the day-to-day coaching duties this season, however, and this is now his side, one that will be expected to improve noticeably in year three. - James Dampney

After 679 games Kevin Sheedy has finally walked away from coaching.   Picture: AFL Media

HAWTHORN
Alastair Clarkson
Given the high expectations around the Hawks this season, Alastair Clarkson's – and his team's – year will ultimately be judged on whether or not they have premiership medals around their necks on the last Saturday in September. But the Hawthorn coach has so far done everything right in manoeuvring the club into a position to achieve its goal. Among his key moves this year: overcoming the loss of Matt Suckling by using Sam Mitchell at half-back; rotating almost all of his players through more than one position to make the team less predictable; spreading the goalkicking load to encourage less reliance on Lance Franklin; carefully managing player workloads to ensure peak form come September; and strategically introducing new talent to increase depth. - Mark Macgugan

MELBOURNE
Mark Neeld
Who would know whether Mark Neeld can coach after what he dealt with during his 33 games but after two huge losses in the first two rounds it became beside the point? Clearly, 2013 was disastrous and one suspects the pressure eventually got to him. He was given the imprimatur to be tough on the players and the environment it created was not conducive to good football or trust. Perhaps if he had his time again, he might have applied more of his natural strengths and built rapport with the senior players slowly so that his message cut through. He should thrive in his next coaching assignment away from the spotlight and he still coached the club to its highest ever score in one quarter. 

Neil Craig
Took over at a horrible time yet was a breath of fresh air. The players responded to his humour and direction, and his experience in the senior gig shone through. Created a style that was more handball oriented, giving more players more opportunity to touch the football. Only managed one win in 11 games but introduced half a dozen new faces and had Jack Watts playing better football. His training standards and competitive drive is famous and he will have left the list in great shape for whoever takes over as coach. - Peter Ryan

NORTH MELBOURNE
Brad Scott
Under Scott's 2013 game plan, North played an attacking brand of football that troubled the AFL's best teams and made them the third highest scoring team in the competition. However, Scott would have been concerned at the Roos' vulnerability to opposition counter-attacks and presumably asked himself whether he could have done more in the five games they let leads of more than 30 points slip. The ease with which opponents scored against North late in its string of narrow losses was also a concern, but more a product of players straying from team structures than anything done in the coach's box. Scott's patient approach with young players continued to reap rewards in 2013. Jack Ziebell and Ben Cunnington took their games to new levels in the midfield, Lachlan Hansen was reinvigorated in defence, Aaron Black and Aaron Mullett became regular senior players and Brad McKenzie and Majak Daw gave glimpses of their potential. - Nick Bowen

Brad Scott hasn't been as happy as his brother, but he has plenty to look forward to.   Picture: AFL Media

PORT ADELAIDE
Ken Hinkley
Nobody in their right mind could have predicted the Power would play finals football in Hinkley's first year in charge. He arrived at Alberton highly backed by many at Geelong and described himself as the "right man" for the job. He's galvanised the playing group and turned it into a unit high on belief and confidence, seamlessly instilling a defensive mentality that has turned the club around. He's obviously benefited from key inclusions around him – senior assistant Alan Richardson and high performance manager Darren Burgess particularly. In typical Hinkley fashion, the coach refuses to limit just what the group can achieve in 2013. Regardless of what happens over the next month, next season looms as his biggest test as he attempts to continue the Power's rise. - Harry Thring

RICHMOND
Damien Hardwick 
As the first coach to lead Richmond into the finals since Danny Frawley in 2001, how could Damien Hardwick's year be judged anything but a resounding success? The fourth-year coach has lifted the Tigers to the edge of the top four, orchestrating a number of individual success stories and transformations. Dual Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt led the AFL for goal assists, showing his selfless side in a less predictable forward line. An injury-free Daniel Jackson, meanwhile, was released from his run-with duties and ranked No.4 at the club for possessions and No.1 (equal) for inside 50s. The midfield developed and was much deeper, while Alex Rance and Troy Chaplin led a rock solid backline. 'Tempo' footy was a problem for the Tigers early in the season, but they have shown better control since. - Nathan Schmook  

Damien Hardwick has taken the Tigers to the finals for the first time in 12 years. Picture: AFL Media

ST KILDA
Scott Watters
Scott Watters was faced with a different challenge to the one he was handed in his first season of 2012 where the team narrowly missed the finals. With Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne and Jason Blake retiring at the season's end, Watters didn't hesitate in getting games into the young Saints in the club's transition period with nine making their senior debuts. Admittedly, his hand was forced at times due to a cruel injury list that often depleted his tall stocks, but it was a step towards making up for the years where youth wasn't the priority. Watters was also strong all year in the face of the media in emphasising the hard-lined stance the club now has to take at the trade table and in free agency, and had to cope with off-field situations such as Milne and Ahmed Saad. - Jennifer Phelan

SYDNEY SWANS
John Longmire
The reigning coach of the year has probably done an even better job in 2013. The archetypal no-fuss coach that simply focuses on the tasks at hand, Longmire has had a host of unforeseen setbacks thrown at him this season. Somehow, a side missing Adam Goodes, Lewis Jetta, Sam Reid, Alex Johnson, Rhyce Shaw, Marty Mattner, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Tommy Walsh for some or all of the season still managed to pick up 15 wins and a draw and remain in the AFL's top four. In their absence, a host of raw, unproven talents filled the breach, including Dane Rampe, Jed Lamb, Tom Mitchell, Andrejs Everitt, Jesse White and Brandon Jack, and the Swans barely skipped a beat. Longmire also had the considerable task of working Kurt Tippett into the line-up mid-season and that was achieved seamlessly. The team suffered a dip in form in the closing weeks of the season, suffering disappointing losses to Collingwood and Geelong. But some key pieces are returning and they seem set for another September campaign. - James Dampney

After a year of gross underachieving many are surprised John Worsfold still has a job. Picture: AFL Media

WEST COAST
John Worsfold
It has been one of the toughest seasons in John Worsfold's twelve years at the helm of West Coast. The speculation surrounding his contract has been an unwanted distraction as his side has underperformed due to injuries and poor form. Worsfold was adamant he would not discuss his future until October but late in the season he said he was keen to continue coaching and would have a preference for a two-year extension. The Eagles last three losses will not do him any favours as he presents to the board in mid-September. Worsfold believes he is capable of rebuilding this group, but the board has to make a decision on whether they believe he is the right man for them moving forward. - Alex Malcolm

WESTERN BULLDOGS
Brendan McCartney
Mid-way through the season the forecast was gloomy for the Western Bulldogs coach. The results weren't coming on the field, and the team didn't show any obvious signs of improvement. Patience is a virtue, and the Bulldogs appear to have plenty of it. Just as well, because had the club reacted hastily we wouldn't have seen the promising performances the team delivered in the last quarter of the season. A nail-biting win over Greater Western Sydney spurred on a complete change in mindset. The team had signed up to McCartney's game plan, and it showed. His grand plans for the club's future are coming to fruition, and the fans have plenty to get excited about for season 2014. - Jacqui Reed