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Eagles back Adam Simpson to lead rebuild

3 minute read

West Coast appear set for a long and painful rebuild, and the club is backing coach Adam Simpson to lead from the front.

ADAM SIMPSON, coach of the Eagles.
ADAM SIMPSON, coach of the Eagles. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images

West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett has declared there is "no chance" the club will part ways with AFL coach Adam Simpson this season.

Pressure on Simpson is building following the Eagles' 1-7 start to the year.

The decision of seven players to visit a nightclub during the peak of Western Australia's COVID-19 outbreak has added to the club's woes.

West Coast sit on the bottom of the ladder with a woeful percentage of 52 after losing their past four games by a combined 331 points.

More pain is set to come on Sunday when they take on defending premiers Melbourne at Optus Stadium.

A perfect storm of injuries and COVID-19 chaos have combined to push West Coast over the cliff this year.

But the club's lack of focus on the draft has also been a major reason behind its current predicament.

West Coast haven't had a top-10 pick since Andrew Gaff was snared with pick No.4 in 2010.

The club's decision to trade away two first-round draft picks to secure Tim Kelly at the end of 2019 has left West Coast further bereft of top-end young talent.

With a host of the club's stars in the twilight of their careers, West Coast face a long and painful rebuild.

Simpson, who led the club to the 2018 flag, is contracted until the end of 2024, and Nisbett is backing the former Kangaroos captain to be there for a rebuild.

"There is no chance that Adam won't be coaching the football club going forward," Nisbett told SEN WA.

"We have complete faith in our system and what we've been doing.

"We're trying very hard to change the style of play.

"That doesn't mean we're going to get immediate results, particularly when we're playing the upper echelon of the AFL.

"It is a brutal business, and we expect that there's going to be a little bit more pain before we improve.

"I know our members are disappointed with our performances, and I know they get disappointed with some of the end results.

"But we're working towards getting better, and that's what Adam stands for at the present stage."

Simpson is still in the AFL's health and safety protocols, but he's on track to get out in time to coach Sunday's match against Melbourne.

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