A FEDERAL election was held this weekend, and either of the major parties would have been glad to have Essendon coach Matthew Knights on board.

In a football sense, he is proving to be the consummate politician - with his job more under threat each day, he keeps saying the right things and appearing cool under pressure.

That pressure mounted further after Essendon's 27-point loss to the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

In his post-match press conference Knights faced a barrage of questions about his job and his ability to retain it.

Bombers CEO Ian Robson said on several radio stations earlier in the afternoon that the club would not guarantee Knights' job into next year - the coach has a contract that runs until the end of the 2012 season, but Robson said a contract is simply a guarantee of money, not of tenure.

But Knights told the media he was very confident he would remain at Essendon's helm.

"Great clubs have great strength in that area, and they stay the course, so that's what gives me huge belief that there's going to be no issues," he said.

"This club has had a tradition and a history of supporting a coach for 27 years, and had a lot of success.

"I'm very confident that come round one next year, I'll be sitting up in that coaches' box, and (chairman) David (Evans) and Ian have never given me any other reason to think otherwise.

"I'm fully committed to the club and this team, and I want nothing but success."

With Sunday's loss, Essendon slipped below the Lions to 14th place on the AFL ladder. The Dons finished eighth last year before losing an elimination final to the Adelaide Crows.

Club legend James Hird helped turn up the heat on Knights during the week when he said he wanted to coach the club one day.

Hird later apologised and said his ambition was not in the short term, but his comments only served to fuel speculation about Knights' future.

At Essendon's pre-game function, club chairman Evans referred to the media storm around the club during the week and urged the Dons to stick together.

"It's a very stable football environment," Knights said of the club.

"Thankfully I've got a good rapport with the board, and I've educated and worked with them, so that's what gives you an understanding that nothing's going to change.

"Yeah, we're going through a difficult time at the moment and it's frustrating, but a lot of clubs have had difficult periods on their way to the top.

"I'm going to keep believing in the playing list and keep working with them, because that's the only recipe."