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.
Essendon
Watch this space
Dean Solomon took over the caretaker role in May 2026 following the departure of Brad Scott. He has already officially withdrawn from the race to secure the full-time coaching position, and the club is searching for a permanent head coach in 2027.
Essendon legend James Hird looks the best placed to become coach and obviously wants the Bombers to return to being a powerhouse of the competition, but no formalities have been done yet. Watch in the next few weeks as Essendon continue on their search.
Mark McVeigh, Jaymie Graham and Murray Davis are also in the running.
