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?
Andrew McQualter (West Coast)
How to measure McQualter's chances of coaching survival is different to the previous three who will be fighting for finals or premierships next season.
What McQualter and his Eagles have to show next year is a clear game plan, defence staunch and stoic enough to stop the mega thumpings and continued growth in their group of young players.
West Coast must do this not only to save McQualter's job, but to convince Harley Reid to stay as his contract call, which ends in 2028, comes closer.
The Eagles play Gold Coast (home), GWS (away), Port Adelaide (home), Richmond (Gather Round), Fremantle (away), Brisbane (away), Collingwood (home), Melbourne (away), Sydney (home) and Geelong (away).
If West Coast sits with only one win heading into a run of clashes against the Lions, Pies, Dees, Swans and Cats - in particular the last two who have given the Eagles hidings in the past - McQualter's job could be in peril with the axe waiting to be swung mid-season.
Earn a contract extension: Finish edge of the top 10
Survive and a chance to get another contract: Five wins
Worst-case scenario and job gone: a) 100-point losses continue b) four or fewer wins
