Which AFL clubs come into 2024 under the most pressure? Tim Watson and Garry Lyon have made their calls.
The former Essendon captain has put the Western Bulldogs in the spotlight, saying he doesn’t feel they have the star-studded midfield they used to and wonders whether they’ll be able to fulfil their full potential.
The Dogs missed the eight in 2023 after only just sneaking in the year before, coming off the 2021 Grand Final.
“I think the Bulldogs are the club under the most pressure right now,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“There’s an expectation that they’ve been building and they’ve had a few false starts and this year is a really interesting year for the Bulldogs.
“They’ve been close, but their midfield, Bailey Smith won’t play this year, they’ve lost Josh Dunkley, Jack Macrae doesn’t have the impact he once had, Marcus Bontempelli can’t do all the work on his own, Adam Treloar has been good, I just don’t know that they’ve go the engine room to carry them to the promised land.”
Lyon believes Port Adelaide comes into the season under pressure given their call to re-sign Ken Hinkley before going out in straight sets in September.
“Port Adelaide. I still haven’t come to grips with them saying they won’t make a decision on the coach until August – and when they were making those noises, they were flying, they made the decision on the coach in August and then they’ve lost six of their last nine including straight sets out in finals,” Lyon said.
“My pressure is maybe different, I’m not saying they’re going to be hopeless, but when you make a call on your coach in August before the most important part of the season starts and then you go out in straight sets and lose six of your last nine, some pressure is on.
“Ken knows it more than anyone. I’m still trying to get my head around the timing of the decision.”
