Expectation is always vast every year as the AFL season approaches, with a raft of senior coaches needing a particularly strong start to the season in order to answer the critics.
Alan Richardson, Chris Fagan and Stewart Dew faced that sort of pressure, and have hit back with strong starts for their respective clubs. All three coaches needed to stamp their authority on their clubs this season, and have done so thus far.
In turn, they have managed to shift the dynamic within the competition and heaped the pressure on other coaches who desperately need the four points this weekend.
So which coaches would need a win this weekend the most?
4. Don Pyke
Without being overly disappointing, Adelaide hasn't been able to reach the lofty heights they set in 2017, and nor have they matched the expectation of them in the 2019 AFL season. Many had tipped Pyke's men to be competing for the flag this year, and so he would want to improve on their slightly underwhelming start to the season if they want to be there at the end of September. Facing a struggling North Melbourne on Saturday night, Pyke has the perfect opportunity to have his troops bounce back into winning ways again, and properly start their season assault.
