IT MAY be early in the season but four coaches in particular are feeling the heat after terrible starts to the year.

Last year's minor premiers Fremantle look listless after falling to 0-5 with a loss to the reigning wooden spoon holders Carlton.

Ross Lyon wanted his team to become more attacking, but the Dockers are in disarray, stuck on the bottom of the ladder and with one of the leakiest defences in the competition.

Four-time All-Australian Aaron Sandilands and skipper David Mundy are out injured, and Brownlow medallist Nathan Fyfe appears set to join them on the sidelines. Making the finals seems an impossible task for Fremantle.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is also feeling the heat. After three consecutive elimination final losses, a top-four spot was on the agenda.

A 1-4 start put paid to that idea. Hardwick recently re-signed until the end of 2018 but Tiger fans are unlikely to be patient if this trend continues.

Ken Hinkley was Port Adelaide's saviour when he led the Power from the doldrums to the finals in his first year in charge, before being a kick away from the premiership decider in 2014.

Those days are long gone. Port is struggling, the chairman labelled his team's 86-point loss to GWS "a disgrace" on Twitter and several stars are struggling for form. Something needs to change at Alberton, and soon.

The most under fire of all could be Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, especially if the Pies lose to Essendon on Anzac Day.

After breaking up the squad that took Collingwood to Grand Finals in 2010 and 2011, Buckley has brought his own players in.

Thus far, it is all for nought, with the Magpies' sole victory coming in the dying seconds of their round two clash against the Tigers.

Key forward Travis Cloke was dropped ahead of the match against Essendon, but a loss to the barebones Bombers will heap further pressure on Buckley.