Every club is under varying degrees of pressure going into the 2019 season, but certain individuals will feel the heat more than others.
Whether it’s a coach under pressure, a high-profile recruit, or a side’s most important player, who is under the microscope next year?
This is not to say jobs are necessarily on the line, but these people in particular will have to perform in 2019.
Port Adelaide: Ken Hinkley
The Power sat a game clear in the top four in Round 16 of 2018 and missed the eight altogether.
They recruited for finals success going into the 2018 season, but by the end of the year had lost Chad Wingard, Jared Polec, Jasper Pittard and Jack Hombsch.
Ken Hinkley clearly wished to change things up and build around younger players, but the team will still be expected to make finals.
He’s contracted until the end of 2021, but after missing the eight from their position in 2018, another year failing to make it could see the heat rising going into 2020.
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Richmond: Tom Lynch
The Tigers got their man in Gold Coast captain Tom Lynch who will add another dynamic to their forward line in 2019.
Alongside Jack Riewoldt and their fleet of small forwards, Lynch should provide another avenue to goal and make this Richmond team even scarier – the key word there is should.
If he struggles early, and it’s fair to assume it’ll take a few weeks to gel with his new teammates, the calls will come for the Tigers to revert to their smaller, pressure-based forward line which granted them so much success over the last two seasons.
Given the money he’s being paid and the existing success Richmond has had, the pressure will be right on Lynch to perform and add another layer.
St Kilda: Alan Richardson
Alan Richardson is likely the coach under the most pressure going into the 2019 season.
The Saints were expected to be in the top eight mix in 2018, but fell well short of the mark, finishing 16th.
The club lacks elite talent, but will hope the addition of Dan Hannebery can help change the culture of the club.
It may come down to something as simple as wins and losses for Richardson and the Saints.
Sydney: John Longmire
By default, John Longmire is the one at the Swans because honestly, no one is really under that much pressure.
The only real stress comes from the team’s inability to turn finals appearances into flags in recent years.
They’ve made the finals every year since 2009, winning the flag in 2012.
SEN expert Nick Dal Santo doesn’t believe the Swans can win the flag under their current style of play.
“I’d like to see them release the shackles, because the current model isn’t going to win them a premiership,” Dal Santo told SEN Breakfast.
Falling short again in 2019 may lead others to start feeling that Longmire’s style isn’t going to get the job done on the last day in September.
West Coast: Andrew Gaff
After a tumultuous end to the 2018 season including an eight-week suspension and speculation he would be leaving the club, Gaff re-committed to the club on a six-year deal.
When he returns from his ban, he needs to come in and return to his form from last season, which saw him rewarded with All-Australian honours.
The Eagles emptied the bank to bring him back and now it’s on him to reward them for that.
Also, they’re the reigning premiers. No one else is under any pressure.
Western Bulldogs: The forward line
The Dogs have assembled a midfield more than capable of taking them to a top eight finish.
Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Lachie Hunter, Tom Liberatore, Toby McLean, Caleb Daniel, Mitch Wallis, Josh Dunkley, Ed Richards, Bailey Smith and Rhylee West is as good a group as any in the competition.
The issue will be whether their forward line can put enough on the scoreboard to take advantage and elevate this side back into the top eight.
Josh Schache and Tom Boyd have had a year to gel and they’ll be hoping the likes of Sam Lloyd, Billy Gowers and Pat Lipinski can do enough to take advantage of their midfield advantage.
We can't wait for the 2019 AFL season on 1116 SEN where you'll hear Gerard Whateley, Anthony Hudson, Garry Lyon, Terry Wallace and the team once again!