Close to crisis? The team under the most pressure in Round 2

SEN’s Dwayne Russell has named the five teams under the most pressure heading into Round 2.

Russell’s pressure meter ranks teams from 1-5, with number one having the most pressure on them and the most to lose heading into the round.

Check out Russell’s pressure meter below.

1 – Essendon
vs Port Adelaide – Adelaide Oval – Sunday

“No improvement signs in Round 1. They played good opposition, but they looked really bad against a team that lost the week before (in Hawthorn),” Russell told SEN's Dwayne's World.

“The club hierarchy is under pressure, given the decisions they've made about not trading Zach Merrett, etc.

“The list management is being questioned again. Year after year after year, the list management has been questioned, under Adrian Dororo and now again.

“Have they actually done any better? The development system has been questioned for the best part of a decade. Is Essendon actually developing any players?

“The coach will be under pressure to keep his job for 2027 if Essendon don't improve themselves this year. In terms of pressure meter, I think Essendon is number one overall, because they are closer to having a crisis than any other team.”

2 - Port Adelaide
vs Essendon – Adelaide Oval – Sunday

“I've got Port Adelaide at two.

“No team stank more than Port last week. Jase Burgoyne admitted they took North Melbourne too lightly. How can you do that in your first game under a new coach? Not go hard enough, and not take a team heavily enough? That's crazy stuff, to hear that admitted.

“That's embarrassing, to have that revealed to the world. They do need to bounce back at home against Essendon, or Josh Carr's appointment on top of last years succession plan... let's face it, Josh Carr is not like Steven King, in that he is getting this group for the first time ever. He knows this group. He has been there for a while.

“There was a succession plan last year where he might have even been coaching for a few of the games. It's not like it's his real first year. It's probably year one and a half for Josh Carr.

“Their recruiting... that's also something, how much money they're paying for guys like Jack Lukosius etc. How low Port might go, if they do lose this game to Essendon will be a question that gets asked.”

3 – St Kilda
vs GWS Giants - ENGIE Stadium – Saturday 

“I've got the Saints at three.

“The Saints need to win, but it's not season over if they don't beat the Giants in Western Sydney. Ross Lyon isn't under pressure to keep his job. He's got that job for at least until the end of next year if they don't make finals this year and next year.

“Ross Lyon is not under pressure, and they've actually been playing some pretty good football. Nas has been playing some pretty good football as well. Yes, they've been the number one in terms of the go-to for the media circus, I get that.

“The media is more likely to camp down at Moorabbin for the week if St Kilda lose, because it's a better feast for the media to feast on St Kilda. That's a better meal, kicking the Saints. 'What are you doing, paying these guys so much money,' all of that kind of stuff.

“It's there for the taking for the media, and it's going to get plenty of clicks, but to be honest, you have to spend your salary cap on someone! I'd rather spend it on good players that might become All-Australians and Brownlow Medallists like they've got getting the money at St Kilda.

“How many below average players at other clubs are getting overpaid? Clubs like Essendon... Essendon has to spend the same money as St Kilda! You might think St Kilda are spending too much money on Nas and TDK... I reckon there might be a heap of guys at Essendon at the moment getting a bit more than they should be getting.

“You can put Port Adelaide in that bracket as well.”

4 - Fremantle
vs Melbourne – Optus Stadium – Saturday 

“I've got Fremantle at four.

“They lost a game they had almost won last week against the Cats, lost a home final they should have won last year.

“You lose to Melbourne, and the question of, 'is Justin Longmuir the guy?' will be asked again.”

5 – West Coast
vs North Melbourne - Optus Stadium – Sunday

“I've actually got the West Coast Eagles at five.

“This is one of their winnable games for the year. Home game against North.

“Lose this, and the whole pre-season hope of a spike year might be out the window straight away, again, with the reality of what 0-2 means.”