After a six-month hiatus, the footy is finally back and like the last couple of years, the same question is being asked on the eve of a new AFL season – who or what can stop Richmond from winning the flag? In 2018 it took Collingwood, and American bi

The Bulldogs showed plenty of faith in their premiership coach, extending his contract midway through last season, before his team had got on its considerable roll. Beveridge is now tied to the club until the end of 2023, by which time he will have b

After nearly 150 games at the helm of West Coast, Simpson has an enviable strike rate of 65 per cent, a flag and two grand finals, and finals appearances in five of his six seasons in charge. He rejected overtures from his old club North Melbourne, a

His old club North Melbourne was keen on the premiership coach’s services, but instead Longmire committed longterm to the Swans, where he’s now tied until the end of 2023, which will make it 13 seasons in charge. A big challenge awaits, with the Swan

After filling in for the final six games, Ratten’s appointment full-time on a three-year deal was a popular move. In his five full seasons as Carlton’s coach from 2008-12, he three times took the Blues to the finals, then worked under Alastair Clarks

About to start his 11th season in charge at Punt Road, and later this season will surpass the legendary Tom Hafey’s record 248 games in charge of the Tigers. Hardwick has found the perfect balance of mentor and master, and could feasibly match Hafey’

Entering his eighth season as Port Adelaide coach, Hinkley still has a 55 per cent winning record, but has taken the Power to finals only once in the past five years. He’s already conceded he won’t be at the club in 2021 if Port can’t make the top ei

Shaw appeared to be a long-shot to take over from Scott even when he was appointed caretaker, having only completed three seasons as an assistant with Sydney. But four wins in his first five games in the role and huge support from the playing group i

The disaster which was 2019 was as much a rude awakening for the coach as for his players after what, to that point, had been a steady improvement. Goodwin has at least been open about where things went wrong. A good communicator, he’s still got time

Clarkson has so many credits in the bank, there’s never questions asked when the Hawks have a rare spell in the wilderness. His mission has always been to prepare a team not just for a finals tilt, but one to go all the way. With four flags and a win

Last year was a personal triumph at least for Cameron in his sixth season in charge. Even late in the piece, he was perceived to be under enormous pressure to retain his job, yet finished the season guaranteed to be coaching the Giants after his curr

No coach in the competition has had the cards stacked against him as much as Dew in his first two years of senior coaching. The result has been just seven wins from 44 starts. That percentage may not improve much this year, either, with a catalogue o

While Geelong’s poor finals record over the past decade continues to be a sore point, there can be no doubting Scott’s capacity to keep the Cats in contention. His winning percentage of 69.3 over nine seasons is the highest of any 200-games-plus coac

After retiring at just 26 because of a degenerative knee injury, Longmuir has served a 10-year apprenticeship in the coaching ranks, with Fremantle, then seven years at West Coast and two at Collingwood. He was seen as a major reason for the Pies’ ra

A fascinating season looms in the Essendon coaching box, with John Worsfold still officially in charge, but Ben Rutten designated to take over in 2021, and likely to have as big a say as his “boss” well before that date. Blake Caracella’s return to t

Buckley could never win that elusive flag as a player, some must be wondering by now whether he’s going to be similarly cursed as a coach. That said, after a long learning process, Buckley these days clearly has found the right formula for man manage

After a dozen years in the system at VFL level or as an assistant with four different AFL clubs, Teague has seized his opportunity to take a senior job after being named a caretaker. Releasing the shackles and generating positive vibes around the clu

In 2019, Fagan was a deserved winner of the AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year award after his team’s remarkable rise. A great communicator and encourager, the experienced football man’s relationships with his players are as good as any, and h

There’s another AFL coaching career about to be launched, but Nicks has had a very thorough apprenticeship, his playing days with the Swans followed by nine years in the system as an assistant coach with Port Adelaide and last year GWS. There’s been

It’s time. For one, to awaken from being the AFL’s sleeping giant, and for the other, to reset and start again – and get it right. Carlton and the Gold Coast Suns have been the competition’s strugglers over the past five seasons, battling away at the

MARCH 2012 was a simpler time than March 2020. Harry Potter fans had just discovered The Hunger Games. Gotye was still somebody that we knew, the idea of Donald Trump being US President was just ludicrous and Ten had just revived Young Talent Time on

There is more to Richmond than just the silverware stemming from the establishment of an unexpected dynasty. Two premierships in three years, sure, and add in flag favouritism for 2020 too. Just where the Tigers end up sitting among the great modern-