As the 2025 AFL season approaches, several coaches are facing intense pressure to deliver results.
While some have seen recent success, others are at critical junctures in their careers.
Whether it's longstanding coaches like Luke Beveridge at the Western Bulldogsย or those still searching for consistency, such as Adelaide's Matthew Nicks and Fremantle's Justin Longmuir, these leaders will be under scrutiny from fans, club executives, and the wider AFL community.
With premiership aspirations, rebuilding challenges, and contract uncertainties, these eight coaches must guide their teams to successโor risk their future in the league.
1. Matthew Nicks (Adelaide Crows)
Matthew Nicks enters his sixth season in charge without a finals appearance to his tenure.
After a promising 2023 season that had the Crows narrowly miss finals due to some umpire controversy, 2024 was expected to be the year Adelaide returned to contention. However, a disappointing 15th-place finish left fans frustrated and questioning the club's direction under Nicks.
Injuries, suspensions, and inconsistent performances marred the season, with flashes of brilliance โ such as wins over Carlton, GWS, and Essendon โ overshadowed by bad losses and a lack of progress.
The club has responded by hiring Murray Davis as the first coaching director, a clear sign that Nicks needed more support. The Crows also made significant moves in the off-season, recruiting key players like Isaac Cumming, Alex Neal-Bullen, and James Peatling to strengthen their squad.
However, Nicks' future is undeniably tied to Adelaide's performance in 2025. With a contract until the end of 2026, a poor start could quickly see the pressure intensify as fans and club leaders alike grow weary of the ongoing rebuild.
Nicks needs a breakthrough season to secure his long-term tenure.
