Expectation is always vast every year as the AFL season approaches, with a raft of senior coaches needing a particularly strong start to the season in order to answer the critics.
Alan Richardson, Chris Fagan and Stewart Dew faced that sort of pressure, and have hit back with strong starts for their respective clubs. All three coaches needed to stamp their authority on their clubs this season, and have done so thus far.
In turn, they have managed to shift the dynamic within the competition and heaped the pressure on other coaches who desperately need the four points this weekend.
So which coaches would need a win this weekend the most?
Without being overly disappointing, Adelaide hasn't been able to reach the lofty heights they set in 2017, and nor have they matched the expectation of them in the 2019 AFL season. Many had tipped Pyke's men to be competing for the flag this year, and so he would want to improve on their slightly underwhelming start to the season if they want to be there at the end of September. Facing a struggling North Melbourne on Saturday night, Pyke has the perfect opportunity to have his troops bounce back into winning ways again, and properly start their season assault.
Woosha defied his critics after recording a much-needed win against the Demons last week, but Worsfold and his Bombers can't afford to rest on their laurels. Starting on the back foot after two lacklustre performances, Essendon will desperately be needing to defeat an up and coming Lions outfit on Saturday afternoon at the 'G. A team with so much expectation on them in the pre-season, Worsfold can't afford to be 1-3 after the first four games of the season.
Scott's Shinboners have somewhat atoned for their first round annihilation at Optus Stadium against the Dockers, but still haven't been able to generate a win. After an impressive showing last season where the club perhaps achieved more than expected, expectations have naturally risen on Scott for 2019. Into his tenth year as North coach, Scott wouldn't want to be losing many more matches in the short term, or it could spell the end of the season for those down at Arden Street.
Similar to Scott, Brendon Bolton and his men have been largely competitive in their first three games, but simply being competitive doesn't necessarily win you games of footy. Into his fourth season as senior coach, Bolton desperately needs to start generating some W's on the board in order for the Blues fans to believe that the club is truly going in the proper direction.