Senior coach: Don Pyke
Season: First
Games coached: 0
Record: 0 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws
Biggest challenge this pre-season: After the Crows' tumultuous 2015 season, Pyke needs to set a clear new direction for the club, one he has indicated will draw on the foundations set by his late predecessor Phil Walsh but also incorporate his own philosophies and innovations.
Contracted until: The end of 2018
Arrivals: Paul Thomas
Departures: Darren Milburn, Jarrod Cotton

Pyke joins the Crows in unprecedented circumstances after Walsh's highly promising start to his senior coaching career was cut short by his tragic death. Walsh's values and philosophies will inevitably continue to reverberate around West Lakes, but Pyke needs to set his own course. One of his first priorities will be rejigging the Crows' midfield in the wake of Patrick Dangerfield's departure to Geelong during the trade period. Scott Camporeale, who was so impressive as the Crows' caretaker coach last year, will stay on as a senior assistant coach. Camporeale was the Crows' midfield coach prior to Walsh's death, but his 2016 duties and those of fellow assistants Matthew Clarke (ruck coach since 2008) and David Teague (forward-line coach in 2015) have yet to be finalised following the departure of backline coach Darren Milburn. Adelaide expects to name a replacement for Milburn soon. Margery medallist and former Essendon player Paul Thomas has already joined the Crows as a development coach, replacing Jarrod Cotton. – Nick Bowen

Don Pkye takes over a talented Adelaide squad, but without Patrick Dangerfield. Picture: AFL Media

Senior coach: Justin Leppitsch 
Season: third
Games coached: 44 
Record: 11 wins, 33 losses, 0 draws 
Biggest challenge this pre-season: Accelerating the talent on his list – particularly in the key positions – to a point where the Lions are ready to be competitive in 2016.  
Contracted until: The end of 2016
Arrivals: Nil
Departures: Nil 

Leppitsch is entering the final year of his contract and would be desperate for his team to click in 2016 with the help of a unique coaching set-up. The Lions effectively have skills coaches and strategy coaches on each line. Simon Black (midfield), Mitch Hahn (defence) and Ben Hudson (ruck-forward) take care of the skills, while Murray Davis (defensive strategy), Gary O'Donnell (offensive strategy) and Danny Daly (stoppages) work on game strategy. - Nathan Schmook

Senior coach: Brendon Bolton
Season: First
Games coached: Five
Record 5 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws
Biggest challenge this pre-season: After the Blues turned over 15 players from their 2015 list, Bolton will need time to mould the new-look Carlton group into a cohesive unit
Contracted: He is on an open-ended staff employment contract
Arrivals Dale Amos, Tim Clarke, Neil Craig, Shane Watson
Departures Brad Green, Dean Laidley, Michael Osborne, Luke Webster, Robert Wiley

Having been part of Hawthorn's coaching team for seven years, Bolton crosses to a club that is in full rebuild mode. Like four-time Hawks premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, Bolton has a teaching background and he will draw on those skills as he works closely with the Blues' raft of youngsters to fast-track their development. Former Adelaide coach Neil Craig joins the Blues as director of coaching and should be an invaluable sounding board for Bolton as he finds his feet. Bolton has assembled a new-look assistant coaching team, bringing in Tim Clarke from Richmond as midfield coach, Shane Watson from North Melbourne as forward-line coach and Dale Amos from Geelong as backline coach. However, John Barker, who stepped up last year as caretaker coach after Mick Malthouse's departure, will remain at Ikon Park in a new role as stoppages coach, while Mathew Capuano will also continue as development coach. – Nick Bowen

Senior coach: Nathan Buckley
Season: Fifth
Games coached: 88
Record: 51 wins, 37 losses
Biggest challenge this pre-season: The talent is now on the list but the Magpies must break through the ceiling that is separating them from the contenders.
Arrivals: Jared Rivers
Departures: Craig McRae 

Buckley remains a developing coach with a team that has shown itself capable of great football but has struggled to sustain form for a whole season. He has shown courage to introduce list changes with an eye on the long term and they are gradually replenishing experience while creating an exciting batch of youngsters. Jared Rivers joined as a development coach and he is a popular figure who will build good relationships. Robert Harvey, Ben Hart, Scott Burns and Steve Grace understand the group and the vision Buckley has in place as the Magpies develop the shared experience they hope will bring success. - Peter Ryan

Senior coach: John Worsfold
Season: 12^th
Games coached: 264
Record: 142 wins, 120 losses, 2 draws 
Biggest challenge this pre-season: Steering the playing group through the Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing WADA's appeal of the Essendon case, while also developing a forward line capable of kicking more goals than what the Bombers managed in 2015.
Contracted until: The end of 2018
Arrivals: John Worsfold
Departures: James Hird, Nathan Bassett

Worsfold headlines the Essendon coaching structure after several tweaks in the off-season. Nathan Bassett's departure opened up an assistant's position, which has been filled by Hayden Skipworth, who will be a full-time line coach in 2016. The club is also in the market for another assistant, which could be former Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna. Mark Neeld has moved into the newly created position of game performance manager, and the club has promoted Matthew Egan to VFL coach and head of player development. Mark Corrigan and Paul Corrigan will remain as development coaches. – Callum Twomey

John Worsfold faces a challenging first season as Essendon coach. Picture: AFL Media

Senior coach: Ross Lyon 
Season: Ninth (fifth with Fremantle)
Games coached: 218 
Record: 143 wins, 70 losses, 5 draws 
Biggest challenge this pre-season: Finding a strategic edge that can allow his list to challenge again, despite aging stars and a threadbare forward line that wasn't bolstered in trade period.  
Contracted until: End of 2017
Arrivals: Anthony Rock, David Hale, Brent Guerra
Departures: Simon Lloyd, Brett Kirk

Lyon has targeted Hawthorn intellectual property this summer with the recruitment of premiership players David Hale and Brent Guerra. Having lost eight of their nine clashes against the Hawks, it is intel that will be vital in helping the Dockers beat the reigning premiers. Both have excellent coaching credentials in their own right, with Guerra making a successful start to his coaching career at lower levels. Anthony Rock worked with Lyon at St Kilda in 2007 and 2008 as midfield coach and has had stints with Ballarat in the TAC Cup, Melbourne (2005-06), North Melbourne (2009), Greenvale in the Essendon District Football League and St Bernard's in the Victorian Amateur Football Association. - Nathan Schmook

Senior coach: Chris Scott
Season: Sixth
Games coached: 109
Record: 80 wins, 28 losses, 1 draw
Biggest challenge this pre-season: Moulding highly talented individuals into an effective team will be difficult, with a number of established players arriving from opposition clubs in recent seasons.
Contracted until: The end of 2017
Arrivals: Simon Lloyd, Matthew Scarlett
Departures: Max Rooke, Dale Amos

Chris Scott faces the biggest challenge of his coaching career in moving a team from one successful era to another with different but talented personnel. The Cats were ordinary at times in 2015 but recruiting Patrick Dangerfield, Lachie Henderson and others has raised expectations. The appointment of Simon Lloyd as coaching director gives the Cats a fresh pair of eyes to support Blake Caracella, Matthew Knights, Matthew Scarlett and Nigel Lappin as well as someone to challenge Scott's thinking. Shane O'Bree looks likely to coach the VFL team while Paul Hood's role will be as much off-field as on-field development.  - Peter Ryan

Senior coach: Rodney Eade
Season: 16th (second with Gold Coast)
Games coached: 339 
Record: 175 wins, 159 losses, 5 draws 
Biggest challenge this pre-season: Getting the club's culture on track so that it's talented list can concentrate on winning games and working back into finals contention.
Contracted until: the end of 2017
Arrivals: Nil
Departures: Nil

Eade failed to put his stamp on the Suns' playing group this year but he's started to clean up some of the distractions with Harley Bennell and Charlie Dixon now at new homes, and the first season under a new coach is always tough to negotiate. The Gold Coast coaching group, consisting of Andy Lovell (midfield), Dean Solomon (defence), Matthew Primus (midfield) and Ashley Prescott (forwards), are very experienced at AFL level and should be able to steer the side towards a top eight berth in 2016. A full season out of captain Gary Ablett would be number one on Eade's Christmas wish list. - Adam Curley

Senior coach: Leon Cameron
Season: 3rd 
Games coached: 44 
Record: 17 wins, 27 losses
Biggest challenge this pre-season: Making sure Cam McCarthy is mentally on board and ready to commit to the Giants for the 2016 season
Contracted until: the end of 2018
Arrivals: Lenny Hayes
Departures: Chad Cornes 

Eleven wins in 2015 was a fantastic effort but Cameron would still have some regrets that the side fell away in the second half of the season. The addition of former St Kilda legend Lenny Hayes is huge for the Giants, especially the club's young midfielders. Luke Power (midfield), Mark McVeigh (backline), Dean Brogan (ruck/midfield) and Amon Buchanan (forwards) are relatively young coaches, so the experience of senior assistant coach Alan McConnell is vital for the GWS staff. The Giants have a proven game plan that the players have bought into, so 2016 should see them take another step towards a maiden finals berth.

Senior coach: Alastair Clarkson
Season: 12th 
Games coached: 259 
Record: 163 wins, 95 losses, 1 draw 
Biggest challenge this pre-season: It shouldn't be too difficult to motivate the Hawks as they gather next month for the start of pre-season. They're gunning to become just the second team in League history to win four straight flags. Not that Clarkson will have much to do with the summer. He leaves the bulk of the pre-season to his assistants and likely won't even coach during the NAB Challenge. He'll resurface around the middle of March when the fair-dinkum footy is about to start.
Contracted until: The end of 2017
Arrivals: Chris Newman (development coach)
Departures: Brendon Bolton (August 2015), John Wardrop (West Coast).

Bolton's departure to Carlton on the eve of the finals last year marked the fourth straight season that a Hawthorn assistant left to become the head coach at another club. Clarkson will enter 2016 coaching against five of his former assistants. Head of development Damien Carroll stepped into Bolton's role as the forwards coach in the finals and takes over on a permanent basis in 2016. Cameron Bruce (midfield), Brett Ratten (stoppages) and Adem Yze (backline) keep their roles as does longtime Clarkson ally David Rath, who oversees high performance. Rob McCartney replaces Carroll as head of development, Marco Bello remains as Box Hill coach, but the new addition to the development ranks is recently-retired former Richmond skipper Chris Newman. If nothing else, the Hawks might discover why the Tigers keep on beating them. Longtime opposition analyst John Wardrop has joined West Coast in a similar capacity. The Hawks have yet to name his replacement. - Ash Browne

Senior coach: Brad Scott
Season: Seventh
Games coached: 135
Record: 74 wins, 61 losses, 0 draws
Biggest challenge this pre-season: After North missed out on big-name trade targets Adam Treloar, Hamish Hartlett and Jeremy Howe, Scott needs to find organic improvement in the Roos' list for them to improve on their two consecutive preliminary final appearances.
Contracted until: October 31, 2016, but Scott is expected to sign an extension before the start of next season.
Arrivals: Brad Green, David Loader
Departures: Shane Watson

As Scott strives to extract more from his list, two of his biggest priorities will be nursing midfielder star Daniel Wells back to full fitness and helping Aaron Black rediscover the form and confidence that made him an exciting forward prospect in 2013. Long-serving assistant coach Darren Crocker has been promoted to director of coaching, while development coach Jarred Moore steps up to become one of Scott's assistants and will focus on the Roos' stoppage work and midfield group. Former North Ballarat Rebels coach David Loader has replaced Moore in North's development coaching team. After three years as an assistant coach at Carlton, Brad Green joins North as backline coach, while former backline coach Josh Drummond will now oversee the midfield and former midfield coach Leigh Tudor will oversee the forward line. – Nick Bowen

Senior coach: Ken Hinkley
Season: fourth
Games coached: 70 
Record: 41 wins, 29 losses
Biggest challenge this pre-season: Port was the trendy premiership pick this time last year, but didn't even make the finals. Expectations will be high once again in 2016, so does Hinkley embrace the hype or try to hose it down?
Contracted until: The end of 2018
Arrivals: Nathan Bassett, Chad Cornes
Departures: Tyson Edwards, Josh Carr

Bassett returns to South Australia to become backline coach after two years with Essendon. The coaching panel has been rejigged with Matthew Nicks moving to the forward line and Garry Hocking from the Port SANFL team to the midfield where he will work with Michael Voss. Cornes comes across from the Giants as the new coach of the Port Adelaide Magpies (a big step for a Glenelg icon) and will also have a match-day role with the Power. Edwards didn't have his contract renewed, while favourite son Carr determined that the next step in his coaching odyssey was to coach a team in his own right, so he has crossed to North Adelaide. - Ashley Browne

Senior coach: Damien Hardwick
Season: Seventh
Games coached: 132
Record: 66 wins, 64 losses, 2 draws
Biggest challenge this pre-season: Getting the basics right as the team regroups after a disappointing end to a what had been a promising 2015.
Contracted until: The end of 2016
Arrivals: Craig McRae, Ryan Ferguson
Departures: Max Bailey, Tim Clarke

Hardwick had a bad end to a good year with the club's elimination final loss overshadowing many of the team's advances in 2015. The Tigers were just a kick away from finishing fourth and defeated the premiers in the home and away season, but could not get the job done against North Melbourne. Hardwick's slow build remains the right approach and the club's advances in his time have been significant. They have added Craig McRae from Collingwood as VFL coach and Ryan Ferguson is full time, but key members of the coaching group, Mark Williams, Brendon Lade, Ben Rutten and Ross Smith remain.  – Peter Ryan

The pressure is rising on Damien Hardwick after another elimination final loss. Picture: AFL Media

Senior coach: Alan Richardson  
Season: third
Games coached: 45 (Richardson coached Port Adelaide for one game in 2013 due to illness)
Record: 10 wins, 34 losses, 1 draw 
Biggest challenge this pre-season: Balancing the need to fast-track important young players into the team and making sure the club's veterans maintain valuable roles
Contracted until: the end of 2018
Arrivals: Nil
Departures: Nil 

Richardson, who's coaching figures include one game from his time at Port Adelaide, has a settled coaching group that is developing the club's young talent well. Adam Kingsley, who was regarded by his peers as the best assistant coach in the AFL in 2015, is the midfield coach while Danny Sexton is the Saints' coaching director. Rohan Welsh (defence) and Aaron Hamill (forwards) are the other line coaches, and Adam Skrobalak is ruck coach. The Saints' off-field team was boosted by the inclusion of former captain Danny Frawley this season, with the champion defender adding a specialist touch. - Nathan Schmook

Senior Coach: John Longmire
Season: 6th 
Games coached: 123 
Record: 83 wins, 38 losses, 2 draws
Biggest challenge this pre-season: Negotiating the highly-anticipated return of star forward Lance Franklin under what will be intense media scrutiny.
Contracted until: the end of 2017
Arrivals: Rhyce Shaw, Brett Kirk
Departures: Nil 

Not much needs to change with John Longmire's game plan but over the pre-season he'll need to find a way to score more heavily in 2016. Long time assistant John Blakey has moved into a role as coaching director/head of development, with Stuart Dew (senior assistant/midfield), Josh Francou (stoppages) continuing their 2015 roles. Henry Playfair (backline) has handed over the job of looking after the Swans' forwards to former champion Brett Kirk, who has returned from Fremantle. Retired 2012 premiership defender Rhyce Shaw has taken over the coaching duties of the Swans' reserves side in the NEAFL. - Adam Curley

Senior coach: Adam Simpson  
Season: third
Games coached: 47
Record: 29 wins, 17 losses, 1 draw 
Biggest challenge this pre-season: Helping the team rebound from a Grand Final defeat and making sure that motivation is properly harnessed in a grueling summer program.   
Contracted until: the end of 2016
Arrivals: Luke Webster, John Wardrop
Departures: Don Pyke 

The Eagles' most valuable acquisition of the summer could well be former Hawthorn strategist John Wardrop, who will be the Eagles' head of game analysis and opposition strategy. With the loss of highly rated assistant Don Pyke, Simpson would be thrilled to add Wardrop's wisdom to the coaching box as the Eagles' look to turn Grand Final defeat into a premiership in 2016. The Eagles are still on the lookout for a new line coach, however, to replace Pyke. In development, Luke Webster has crossed from Carlton, while Jaymie Graham takes the reins as WAFL affiliate East Perth's coach, maintaining some of his development duties. - Nathan Schmook

Senior coach: Luke Beveridge
Season: Seventh
Games coached: 23
Record: 14 wins, 9 losses, 0 draws 
Biggest challenge this pre-season: Beveridge needs to put some size on emerging key defenders Fletcher Roberts, Joel Hamling and Zaine Cordy.
Contracted until: the end of 2017
Arrivals: Nil
Departures: Nil

Beveridge made no changes to his coaching panel upon his appointment this time last year and he looks set to keep the status quo after a successful 2015. Senior assistant Brett Montgomery leads a relatively inexperienced support group consisting of Rohan Smith (backline), Steven King (midfield), Joel Corey (stoppages), and Daniel Giansiracusa (forwards), while Ashley Hansen is in charge of the club's VFL. – Ryan Davidson