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 successโ€”or risk their future in the league.

3. Justin Longmuir (Fremantle Dockers)

Justin Longmuir is at a critical juncture as the club prepares for the 2025 AFL season.

Since his appointment in 2020, he has nurtured a young and promising team, highlighted by a return to finals in 2022 after a seven-year absence.

However, the Dockers' disappointing end to the 2024 season, where they slipped from third to finish tenth, has intensified pressure on Longmuir.

Longmuir described the 2024 campaign as a โ€œmassive opportunity lost,โ€ citing failures to execute in key moments against top teams.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 13: Dockers coach, Justin Longmuir speaks to his players during the round nine AFL match between Sydney Swans and Fremantle Dockers at Sydney Cricket Ground, on May 13, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Yet he emphasised the development of young talents like Caleb Serong, Hayden Young, and Luke Jackson, maintaining that the team is on the right track while acknowledging the need for improvement in high-pressure situations.

His coaching has garnered support from club legends and analysts, with former captain Shaun McManus advocating for a contract extension beyond 2025 to ensure stability amid rising expectations.

Dean Laidley, a former North Melbourne coach, believes Fremantle could contend for a premiership within three years under Longmuir's leadership.

For 2025, the Dockers are bolstered by the addition of former Richmond small forward Shai Bolton, enhancing their midfield x-factor and scoring capability. They also retained valuable draft picks for continued youth development.

As key players like Serong, Andrew Brayshaw, and Jackson enter their primes, the pressure on Longmuir to secure a finals berth is mounting, and his ability to navigate high-pressure situations will be crucial for his future and the club's success.