Each year AFL coaches are either put under scrutiny or praised for what they have done with the club's list and where their side has finished at the end of the year.
Whether it's a club going through a rebuild, a premiership contender, or a side failing to fulfil expectations, here is every coach ranked as safe, pressure-building, or under the pump heading into the 2027 season.
Josh Fraser (Carlton)
Very safe
Has anyone ever turned a club around as quickly and dominantly as Fraser has with the Blues? The club's unbelievable run continued with a 44-point win over St Kilda, winning their tenth game from their last 12, climbing from their shocking 1-8 start to now certainly make finals.
The interim coach who earned “we want Fraser” chants from the Blues faithful officially became the Carlton head coach on Tuesday morning,
Players and media personnel have praised what he has done during this year, as Cats great Cameron Mooney told Fox Footy, “his resume is right there: 10-2. You'd walk in, (put that) on the whiteboard, and walk out of the room.”
Star midfielder Sam Walsh gave his thoughts on Fraser also. “What I will say is Frase hasn't made it about himself once," Walsh said.
“Everyone's saying, ‘put your hand up' — he's not worried about that”.
Fraser expressed his gratitude and the club-first mentality he has as he stepped into his new role. “I have always had ambitions to be a Senior Coach and what the last three months have done is give me the absolute belief that I am ready," Fraser said.
"Most importantly, ready for this exact opportunity, to be Senior Coach of the Carlton Football Club".
