Four experienced coaches moved on from their senior AFL coaching roles this season, and with four more out of contract in 2027, who will survive and extend, and who could face the swift chop of the axe?
Adelaide's Matthew Nicks, Western Bulldogs' Luke Beveridge, St Kilda's Ross Lyon and West Coast's Andrew McQualter are all contracted until the end of the 2027 season.
The four coaches head into next year with different temperatures on their seats. Nicks' is red-hot, while Beveridge, McQualter and Lyon's will warm fast if results don't go their way.
Alastair Clarkson (North Melbourne), Michael Voss (Carlton), Brad Scott (Essendon) and Chris Fagan (Brisbane) all left their senior coach roles in 2026. Albeit for different reasons, with Fagan's three-peat departure straight out of a Hollywood movie.
The 2027 AFL fixture has now been released, so what does each coach have to do across the first few rounds to earn a new contract, simply survive or face a firing squad?
Luke Beveridge (Western Bulldogs)
The Dogs coach is beloved by his players, while the western suburbs will never forget him for bringing the premiership cup home for the second time in the club's history and the first time in 62 years, back in 2016.
But next season will make it more than a decade since that history-making achievement. And the Bulldogs have never made the top four under Luke Beveridge despite making Grand Finals in 2016 and 2021.
Beveridge's side must make a leap in consistency and cement a place in the top four. They have all the stars you could want to get them there: Marcus Bontempelli, Zak Butters, Ed Richards, Sam Darcy, Aaron Naughton, Bailey Dale and more.
The Bulldogs' first 10 fixtures in 2027 are Fremantle (away), St Kilda (home), Adelaide (away), Port Adelaide (Gather Round), Hawthorn (home), GWS (away), Gold Coast (home), Collingwood (away), Carlton (away), North Melbourne (home).
That should give the Dogs at least a record of 6-4 or greater to kick-start their campaign and premiership hunt.
Earn a contract extension: a) A top four spot b) a Preliminary Final finish or greater
Survive and a chance to get another contract: An early finals exit
Worst case scenario and job gone: Miss the top 10
