Social media can often be an outpouring of emotion for aggrieved supporters, who look to vent their thoughts in a public forum.
After West Coast’s eight-point loss to the fast-finishing Saints, Eagles coach Adam Simpson was squarely in the line of fire.
Simpson was the centre of a barrage from fans who knocked the coach’s game plan and team selection.
Although they have every right to feel frustrated about season 2017 slipping away, West Coast fans have clearly lost sight about Simpson, forgetting what he has accomplished in his four years as the club’s senior coach.
Since taking the reigns from John Worsfold in 2014, Simpson can lay claim to a 61.8 per cent win record, with 55 wins from 89 games coached.
That percentage sees Simpson sit as the sixth most successful current coach behind Don Pyke, Chris Scott, John Longmire, Luke Beveridge and Alastair Clarkson.
Four of those coaches have a Jock McHale medal to their name and Don Pyke might soon join them with Adelaide’s current form.
Statistics aside, Simpson’s proven coaching ability is a major reason why any talk about his position being in jeopardy is simply scant.
In 2014, Simpson inherited a list which had finished the previous season in thirteenth on the back of experts predicting the Eagles as ‘premiership favourites’.
Compounding the club’s woes was the retirement of ’06 premiership stars Daniel Kerr and Andrew Embley, and the fact that Worsfold had stepped aside with a year to go on his contract.
Although Simpson’s impact in 2014 wasn’t immediate – the Eagles just missed the finals after finishing ninth – he had laid the foundation for the club’s rebound.
He uncovered a star in Jeremy McGovern, developed young players in Elliot Yeo, Jaimie Cripps and Dom Sheed while implementing quick ball movement, which became a run and gun tactic the following season.
(AAP Image/Joe Castro)
Also, any Eagles fan must surely remember the highs of 2015?
A year which looked ruined when club best and fairest Eric Mackenzie succumbed to a season ending ACL injury in the NAB Challenge, all hope was supposedly lost when back-up defender Mitch Brown did the exact same injury in Round 1.
However, Simpson and his assistants managed to craft the ‘weagles web’ zone defence, which proved to be a masterstroke in their run to the grand final.
Although the Eagles were comprehensively beaten in the decider by Hawthorn, the club did not falter, with Simpson’s men enjoying 16 wins the following year.
The club’s 2016 season famously ended in the elimination final after to succumbing to eventual premiers the Western Bulldogs.
Stepping back into 2017, the prospect of the Eagles making another grand final and winning the premiership may seem an eternity away.
It’s clear though that Simpson can be the man to do it.
There is no doubt the Eagles are in a rut and their supporters come with a heavy expectation of winning due to the club’s successful past.
However, this isn’t the first time Simpson’s had to rejuvenate the Eagles list, the only difference being is that this time it’s his own situation, not something he’s been left with by a predecessor.
Can he turn the Eagles form around? Everything points to a yes, so let’s just wait and see.
Brynn O'Connor
Roar Rookie
Not convinced the Eagles will trade Masten J.Roger. Although his season has been poor, I think the Eagles will see that he still adds depth to their midfield. Plus he has a contract until 2019.
J.Roger
Guest
Yep but nope, dont subscribe to J.Gov moving to Freo. Cant see that happening contrary to speculation, which is all that is..
Docker@Aveley
Guest
J. Roger - you won't pick up M McGovern. And pray heaps that you don't lose J McGovern!
Lroy
Guest
...'' the joy and ease of life that being a Freo supporter affords...'' Ill have to pay that... didn't realize such a thing existed ;-) " How Zen and the study of Mahayana Buddhism Makes Life Worth Living - From a Committed Fremantle Dockers Fan...''' Now there's a book Id be happy to read.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
Agree. A coach is really only as good as the cattle he has on the field. Masten is useless and has to go, but he is contracted until the end of 2019. SO I guess we will have to put up with him for another two years. There has to be something seriously wrong somewhere if the players keep on losing these close games. they don't seem to be playing as a team. I personally think it is the captain Shannon Hurn. He is a good footballer, but he doesn't inspire me as a captain. Need to give someone else a go and Kennedy is the obvious choice IMO. At least he can speak well at a presso, not like Hurn who replies with "I really don't know how to answer that mate!" Real captain material (not).
Jermayn
Guest
To be fair... Redden and Jetta have played well in the second half of the year and justified (to some extent) why WCE picked them up and are an upgrade to someone like Masten.
J.Roger
Guest
We lost 2 key backmen (one AA) for one year, had to patch it up. Then we lost 2-3 key ruckmen (NN, Lycett, Petrie broke hand 1st round, Vardy in+out due to injury and form)-have had to patch that up all year. The ruck is in transition (we have to use Gov sometimes), the midfield is in transition - out with the old+slow, in with young pace. the game has changed, teams have changed-unbelievably even comp now. a lot of factors contribute to WCE losing often by a few points. We finished 9th to date, could easily have been higher. will probably tumble out now, unless they transform back into the team that beat the cats, for each and every game forward.? otherwise its been a rollercoaster 'Meh' season...but it looks okay going forward into next season, even with the same coach. A couple of walk-up starters in the midfield, from the draft/trade would do wonders you'd think!?. NN+Lycett back with Vardy. Priddis and Mitchell gone. Possibly Schofield, Hill, Masten gone... maybe Lecras+Wellingham? pick up M.Gov, put him up forward with JK? when we settle back into a full team with Ruck in off-season and more miles under the youngsters and a new midfield!!!!!!!! ...well, its just gotta be better? Barrass is still learning the ropes for example, we forget that. let alone Cole, Murtimer, Partington, Karpenny -theyre still clocking up L-plate kilometres..Wasnt that long ago Sheed, Duggan were L-platers, now theyr'e solid. Redden and Jetta were 2 midfielders that didnt come up to speed when required, so jury's out on them still. if they had stepped in and stepped up sooner, things migh'tve been different. so next season we'll have a mass of ruck/midfielders, NicNat, Lycett, Vardy, Shuey, Gaff, Yeo, Sheed, Duggan, Redden, Jetta, Partington, Murtimer, Venables, Karpenny (mid/forward), Then coming through theres Rioli (mid/forward), Snadden (mid), Tunbridge? (forward), Lamb (forward), Allen (power forward), Waterman(mid/forward), Rotham (back), Watson (silky back)...... ...PLUS NEW TRADES??? (i know it sounds like i'm trying to convince myself, and every team will have new trades...but hey Priddis+Masten gone! It's gotta be better!??
Don Freo
Guest
There are many English teachers struggling with stress that contributes to dysfunction. I know; I teach English with them. Of course, I am not one of them because I have the joy and ease of life that being a Freo supporter affords. There are great signs of supporter stress in your "sack the coach" comments. It's funny how the coach gets singled out for whole club decisions.
Lroy
Guest
''Theres a bunch of players who went on too long, players could have been traded when they still had trade value.....'' Dear Don, its simple enough, please read again...if your still struggling with it the second time please let me know, I'm an English teacher after all...that's what I do, help people understand simple sentences. .. and I think its great that you Fremantle people take such an interest in the Eagles... at least the blue and gold are a chance of making finals eh??
Don Freo
Guest
Good grief Lroy! If a player has "gone on too long" he has no trade value. If he has trade value he has not gone on too long. It was just a loss. They'll play finals. The other contenders are faltering too.
Lroy
Guest
Laid the foundation for the clubs rebound in 2014?? How was that exactly...by playing the same players Worsfold did?? Theres a bunch of players who went on too long, players could have been traded when they still had trade value... now we will get nothing for them. Instead of blooding new player, he's relied on guys who have consistently underperformed...then he acts surprised when they... underperform. Giving up leads in games so many times leads one to conclude there must be something structurally wrong with their game plan or rotation policy. The Eagles gave up two good leads on Saturday. 8 minutes before half time they were 22 points up... in the context of the game, that should have been a match winning lead. Later in the last quarter they were 14 points up... again, in a low scoring game that probably should have been enough. So this week the Eagles have managed to squander a potentially match winning lead TWICE in one game. How can Simpson possibly be the guy to lead the club forward given his reluctance to bring in new players, (hes been there 4 years) and the sides inability to lock a game down??. Jesus, you learn in under 12's what to do to protect a lead, slow it down, go long down the line , force a contest , go man on man...the Eagles haven't done any of that this year.
BigAl
Guest
That "61.8 per cent win record " claim, in fact the whole article, is just a puff piece totally ignoring the elephant in the room ! i.e. The-Eagles-can-not-beat-anyone-anywhere-anytime-in-Melbourne !! That is an attribute that spells doom for any team that wishes to succeed in the AFL. Unless they can turn that around(drastically), they may as well just compete in the WAFL - where I am sure they would do very, very well !
The Doc
Roar Guru
Great read Brynn. Amongst the cacophony of rubbish, you present the voice of common sense and reason
Don Freo
Guest
Cripps has been quite good.
Don Freo
Guest
Yes...but Damo, press conferences deserve the disdain they get from coaches. Ask some questions motivated by a brain and coaches might answer more fully. After 3 hours of intense work with professional (footballers), they have to confront clowns full of their own importance and armed with only cliches.
Roger F
Guest
Come on players,you've lost at least 5 games in the last quarter,can't keep blaming the coach,maybe you guys have to get your minds on the field, and make sure that your fitness is at the top level.come on iv been supporting you since 1987, and will support you until i die,so next season give me something to smile about.
Riles
Guest
Glad not everyone has lost the plot. Bagging decent Victorians on the West Coast is always tricky - and that goes for both players and coaches. Would be near-suicidal to get rid of Simmo now. Managed to beat every team in the comp in 2015 (I think) and looked like the best team in the comp until we didn't. Struggled last year with injuries, and without Nic Nat this year was always going to be tough. Anyone who watches us play in the close ones (see: last night) knows we are getting belted in clearances. Simmo is the man, and I don't think it will be a full clear-out next year like some are predicting. That said, unless we've got the guts to inject Nic Nat this year is cooked.
Jermayn
Guest
Priddas was done last year and the recruitment of Mitchell gave him hope for another final series. Priddas has had a job at an accounting firm waiting for him for the past few years. I expect some assistant coaches/ staff etc to be moved on along with 6-8 players which I think is a good thing. Bit of dead wood there.
Jermayn
Guest
Tend to agree... Hopefully we pick him up this year. Cripps and Hill have had very average years and we need another avenue to goals who can regularly kick 2-3 goals between them.
Baz
Guest
We can definitely play Liam Ryan and Willi Rioli in the same forward line.