Round nine losses only tightened the collars around the necks of the AFL's most under-pressure coaches as their sides continued to dwell in mid-season purgatory.

Geelong's Mark Thompson, Essendon's Kevin Sheedy, Hawthorn's Alastair Clarkson and the Kangaroos' Dean Laidley have all had their share of woes this season and began the weekend hoping for better results to ease the strain.

Instead the quartet has a bigger collective headache, and in the case of Laidley the frustration of a poor season was spilled out as he twice clashed with the same Kangaroos supporter as he ran down through the crowd before addressing his players.

The Roos lost to St Kilda 10.14 (74) to 8.9 (57) at Telstra Dome.

At least Laidley was proud of his players' efforts, which could not be said of his counterparts.

Thompson conceded a top-four finish was out of the equation for his Cats, who began the season so well but will now do very well to reach the finals, having lost a sixth game from the past seven, to Richmond 17.8 (110) to 12.18 (90) at Skilled Stadium on Saturday.

Richmond's win ranked among its best of recent times and was its first at Geelong's home ground since 1990.

The Tigers' 5.2 to Geelong's 0.9 in the final term smacked of the gulf in confidence between the two sides.

Sheedy (26th season) and Clarkson (second) are at opposite ends of the experience range, but have struck common ground in trying to rebuild their playing lists.

But both were left picking up the pieces instead of building afresh after lamentable performances.

Port Adelaide's 20.9 (129) to 9.15 (69) win at Telstra Dome marred Sheedy's 600th game as coach and sent the Bombers to an eighth-straight defeat and bottom place.

After witnessing the most dismal performance from his side this season, Sheedy urged disgruntled fans to heap their annoyance on his shoulders instead of that of the young players he intends on trying for the remainder of the year.

Port had captain Warren Tredrea (four second-half goals) firing again, but Power coach Mark Williams said he needed stars Chad Cornes and Peter Burgoyne to return promptly if the club was any chance of contesting a sixth-straight finals campaign.

Clarkson had endured a shocking week before his players were rightly thumped by Sydney 19.5 (119) to 7.12 (54) at the MCG, having had Hawks president Jeff Kennett question the fabric of his players and then captain Richie Vandenberg suspended for four games.

But Sydney's win, highlighted by vastly superior skills, gave Clarkson the blueprint his players should follow in the future.

"By and large the 22 guys for us didn't work for one another as well as the 22 blokes from Sydney did," Clarkson said.

"That's why they're sitting in the top three or four and we're not.

"When we get to be as good as them in that area, that's when we'll really start progressing up the ladder."

Sydney's win was its fifth-straight and the reigning premier is travelling better than it was at this stage last year.

Adelaide got its season back on track with a routine 18.16 (124) to 9.6 (60) win over Carlton at AAMI Stadium.

The Brisbane Lions have been the big bolter over the past three weeks and thrashed Fremantle 21.15 (141) to 10.13 (73) at the Gabba, with Jonathan Brown (seven goals) and Jason Akermanis the stars.

As soon as the Lions players emerged from ice baths they turned their attention to a monster clash against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday night.

The Magpies' high-flying season continued last Friday night, when they beat the Western Bulldogs 21.13 (139) to 16.9 (105).

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP