West Coast are considering sacking coach Adam Simpson as the fallout begins for the Eagles’ second consecutive season from hell, according to Eddie McGuire.
McGuire revealed on Nine’s Footy Classified on Wednesday night that the Eagles will be undergoing a period of upheaval in coming weeks, with long-term CEO Trevor Nisbett to leave once his contract finishes at the end of 2024 and Simpson now a chance to join him in exiting.
The Eagles have remained staunch in their support of Simpson despite torrid on-field results, with the injury-hit club winning just four matches in the last two years and regularly losing by more than 100 points in 2023.
However, McGuire claims the Eagles’ humiliating 101-point loss to Fremantle in Round 21’s Western Derby has shaken the board’s confidence in the 2018 premiership coach.
“Tonight I can tell you the board is contemplating whether to sack Adam Simpson. That is the situation,” McGuire said.
“Things seemed to be going along alright after the Essendon game, they thought everything was hanging together. But the total humiliation of what happened on the weekend against the Fremantle Dockers has now got this before the board.”
McGuire also said Simpson himself is aware of the situation.
“Adam Simpson knows this, because he’s actually said: ‘I want to know sooner rather than later’,” McGuire added.
“He’s a proud man, he’s a great coach, he’s a fantastic person and he deserves to get a quick answer – if, in fact, they have one.”
Simpson is contracted until the end of 2025 on a reported $800,000 per season, which given the AFL’s ‘soft cap’ restrictions would make sacking him financially hazardous.
However, McGuire believes the club is prepared to take the hit, plus a reported $4 million football department tax.
“They have more money than God and they’re prepared to spend it,” the former Collingwood president said.
Former great and McGuire’s Footy Classified co-panellist Matthew Lloyd voiced his support for moving Simpson on, saying urgent action is required to turn things around for the embattled Eagles, who sit last on the ladder with just two wins and a dire percentage of 50.6.
“Trevor Nisbett and Adam Simpson have been wonderful for the West Coast Eagles, great people, they’ve been brilliant. But it’s obviously gone off the rails the last three years,” Lloyd said.
“Their football is not good. Off-field fine, but the football is terrible… this is a five-year build, this is a long journey, and no one could say Adam is up for five years.
“He might go, ‘well I am’, but I just think if you’re a player… you need a broom to come through.”
The Eagles are yet to respond to McGuire’s claims.
‘Absolute rubbish’: Goodwin dismisses former president’s shock allegations
Calling the allegations “absolute rubbish” and the matter irrelevant, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has brushed aside the latest claims made against him.
The Demons have also released a statement slamming the latest media report in former Melbourne president Glen Bartlett’s long-running dispute with the club.
Melbourne have confirmed WorkSafe Victoria is investigating matters at the club.
Bartlett suddenly stepped down as Melbourne president in April 2021, and was replaced by Kate Roffey. He has been at war with the Demons ever since.
“I’ve said for three years it’s an irrelevant story to me. The club and I have been really clear on our stance of where we see it,” Goodwin said on Thursday.
“It’s absolute rubbish that’s been put in there and I’ve been pretty clear with it.
“I just can’t give it the energy that people want me to. It’s not something I get too concerned about – I have a footy team to worry about.”
After the latest allegations against Goodwin emerged in the media on Wednesday, the club issued a statement calling them outrageous.
“The board of the Melbourne Football Club unequivocally refute the unsubstantiated, historical and outrageous accusations against Simon Goodwin and other club leaders as published in [Wednesday’s] Herald Sun,” the statement read.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“The views expressed by Ms Laspas [Bartlett’s partner, Vicki] are her recollection of historical events and are in direct contrast with the recollections of the Melbourne Football Club Board.
“The board are unanimous and united in their support of Simon Goodwin and are dismayed that he and his family will need to again endure this attempt to undermine his outstanding reputation as a club leader.
“In regard to the Worksafe complaint made by Ms Laspas, the Club has responded to Worksafe’s requests for documentation.
“This includes providing documents and proof that contradict and refute claims made by Ms Laspas.
“Over the last two years, Mr Bartlett and his partner Ms Laspas have continued to make accusations about club leaders that are baseless.”
On the eve of the 2022 season, the Demons supported Goodwin after Bartlett’s concern over the coach’s alleged behaviour at, and out of, the club became public.
(AAP)
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
In some ways, the injury toll that forced the young players into being picked has accelerated the transition of older players from undroppable to soon, unpickable. Plus farewells to Shuey,Hurn, Naitanui,probably Waterman, sadly, and Gaff to the sub role opens up permanent places to the recruits. Ryan will be back. I like the sound of Reid, Ginbey,Kelly, Sheed,Long in the middle. Deven Robertson is probably available, good VFL rucks as well. Roll on 2024
sunnycoasttiger
Roar Rookie
Wow! In English please.
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
MacGuire is AFL bad news. I saw on a AFL bet show Brown/Johnson that this week Buckley had opened up on sudden Malthouse coaching transition in 2009 (Buckley to coach in 2011). Does anyone know what outlet he did this on? The transition announcement occurred in the week of the greatest news story in Australian sport of year 2009 - The Gold Coast Suns had announced that they had signed Karmichael Hunt, Australian rep Rugby League player (NRL) which was unprecedented coup in Australian sport. McGuire, being a loyal Nine network employee (ex CEO) who had the NRL rights, got wind of the Hunt signing on Monday and out of the blue hastily brought the coaching transition announcement forward to Monday or Tuesday night (27-28/7/2009) to try and blunt the Hunt story. The Suns announced on Tuesday or Wednesday. To prove this was the case, the AFL footy show on Nine network barely mentioned the Hunt signing (Garry Lyon pathetic joke in the opening about Hunts name was only reference ) and Sam Newman had a boring 20 minute interview with Macguire about the coaching transition where they went over the same issue again and again trying to create some interest or controversy. In 9's Footy Classified the next week, Garry Lyon thanked another 9 employee Hutchie for keeping quiet on the Hunt signature story under wraps. I have seen Hutchie in action in journalism and business and to think he kept the biggest sports story of the year under wraps in biggest BS story of the century and I assume he tipped off Eddie. Has someone ever put these qns to Eddie/Hutch/Lyon and not let them squirm out of answering it directly with a deflective disingenuous answer.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
100% agree. He loves the club. Players love him. If it’s still off the rails next year. There should be a change. Funny how Collingwood’s loss last night was because they’re missing 3 players. We’ve been missing half of our best 10 for 2 years! The kids look great. And the West Coast culture is alive and well. That’s why I’m not concerned.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
We're always ahead of the curve Nics. This "5 yr rebuild" will take 3 at most. And we're already halfway through it.
nics
Roar Rookie
I'll trade you an all Australian wingman (Gaff) for English. Last offer ;)
Chanon
Roar Rookie
From Antarctica on the edge of space & time but hey you could be right or wrong but we’ll find out at years end. :thumbup:
PriddisJunior
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Mate, I’ve been on board the the Carlton bandwagon all szn. I know good footy when I see it. Results haven’t been great but if you were actually paying attention instead of spraying ya mouth. There has been a big shift in the “attacking” game plan this year. But by all means keep saucing Kane’s flop.
nics
Roar Rookie
Where are you hearing these rumours from down south – in Tasmania ;)? Reid will go where he’s drafted. If he doesn’t stay we’ll get a handy pick or two for him in a year.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
You should put in a complaint cause l’m hearing lots of murmurings down south. Plus Reid doesn’t want to head to WA. Both our recruiting teams Will amicably come up with a plan that will be rubber stamped with .01 of a millisecond left on the clock.
nics
Roar Rookie
Well all I can say is Richmond fans pining for Lynch, Dusty to come back next season, and Dockers fans doing the same for Fyfe, sound quite a lot like West Coast fans waiting for Nic Nat and our mids to be fit over the last few seasons - I hope for your sakes the Eagles weren't just ahead of the curve ;)
nics
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If you say so Chanon. Sounds like wishful thinking to me. We don’t really need another ruckman who cant tap that well – BBBW will do that adequately ????. Bear in mind Grundy is probably available for a second rounder. Next!
Chanon
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They want him Nics it’s a done deal
nics
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Tell him he's dreaming
AdamDilligafThompson
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And yet we still have to put up with him. Mind blowing.
Johnno
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Agree. Simpson has said that he got an extension to oversee the rebuild. So that thinking would need a complete turnaround.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
End of next year but knowing Power & Bevo if they get a sniff he wants to pis. off home to his GF they will put him on the trade table this year & make WC deliver the goods. All we need is a 3rd party keen & they will have no choice.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
Isn't he an unrestricted free agent Chan? Has been in the works since he only signed a 2 year extension.
Eagles 18
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't mind if the club gives Simmo till round 10 next year to see how we are performing on field. If we are in a similar position as now, then he must go, if not continue as planned.