It is probably the toughest gig in the business, especially when the expectations are high. Whether they are looking to go that one step further or just make their claim among the best, these coaches will be feeling the heat in 2023.
Here is our list of the five coaches under the most pressure heading into next season.
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4. Stuart Dew
Gold Coast are yet to appear in an AFL finals series in their 12-year history but have never had a more exciting list than now.
They believe Stuart Dew is the man to take them to success but without a winning season to his name as head coach thus far, there is pressure on him and the side to finally end their season within the top eight by stringing together a consistent campaign.
Dew signed with the Suns after the 2017 season with low expectations at the time given the departure of Gary Ablett; the only multiple-time All-Australian player in the club's history at the time.
He led them to just seven wins in their first two seasons as they gathered elite young talent through the draft in players like Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and Jack Lukosius.
In 2020 they showed positive signs, starting 4-3 and challenging quality teams.ย Rowell looked like a top-20 player in the competition already before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. They soon collapsed, falling down the ladder and finishing 5-1-11 on the year.
They have steadily improved under Dew, winning seven games in 2021 and 10 in 2022, their equal highest ever.
The loss of Izak Rankine hurts, but with the return of Ben King to an exciting, young list, Gold Coast must make finals for their 2023 campaign to be considered a success.
Although Dew is locked in until the end of 2024, he will be truly under the pump if they cannot perform on a consistent basis and achieve a winning season.
