The SEVEN AFL coaches under the most pressure heading into 2026

Whether it be pushing for premiership success, finals contention or improving on the year before, it could be argued that a critical juncture has been reached.

Aidan Cellini

WRITER | November 6, 2025 - 6:30pm

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Season 2026 could be a year of reckoning for seven AFL coaches.

Whether it be pushing for premiership success, finals contention or improving on the year before, it could be argued that a critical juncture has been reached.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is perpetually in the coaches under pressure column, while time is running out for Alastair Clarkson at North Melbourne.

Fremantle enjoyed a return to finals, but with their list, expectations will deem them ready for a maiden flag.

But leading one of the Victorian powerhouse clubs comes with its own stress, and nowhere to hide.

Here are SEVEN coaches that will feel the heat leading into the 2026 season (in no particular order)...

6Luke Beveridge (Western Bulldogs)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 21: Luke Beveridge, Head Coach of the Bulldogs watches on during the round two AFL match between Footscray Bulldogs (Western Bulldogs) and Collingwood Magpies at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on March 21, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 21: Luke Beveridge, Head Coach of the Bulldogs,ogs watches on during the round two AFL match between Footscray Bulldogs (Western Bulldogs) and Collingwood Magpies at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on March 21, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Contracted until the end of 2027

The Bulldogs coach will never leave the spotlight, given the immense talent on his list.

In 2024, Luke Beveridge coached the most dominant defensive output. He flipped the script in 2025, and failed to steer his side into September.

With Marcus Bontempelli and Sam Darcy occupying the list, the sky is the limit for what the club can achieve.

Clearly, the strength of the Bulldogs is their front two-thirds, but where they are vulnerable is their backline, which has proved to be a spot of bother.

The 2016 premiership coach has the tools to turn the Whitten Oval club into a scary proposition, but has seemingly failed to live up to expectations.

A delayed re-signing of his most recent contract, Beveridge always presents as being one of the most under-pressure coaches in the competition, and 2026 will be no different.