Adam Simpson’s blunt press conference after Eagles’ horror record loss

West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson wasn’t in the mood after his side’s historic loss and one question didn’t sit well with him.

Adam Simpson addresses the media.

West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson says he’s “pretty embarrassed” after his side’s 171-point loss, but maintains he is the right person for the job moving forward.

Simpson’s side suffered the biggest loss in its history and the fourth-biggest loss ever recorded in the VFL/AFL, adding to a season of horror defeats for the 2018 premiers.

Despite being contracted until the end of 2025, Simpson’s role has come under external scrutiny in West Australia, with that pressure only set to intensify after Saturday’s defeat at the SCG to Sydney.

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“We tried lots of things, but none of them worked,” Simpson said in a post-match press conference that lasted just over five minutes.

“From start to finish, we were on the back foot. We couldn’t gain any type of ascendancy at all and in the end we got what we deserved.”

The 47-year-old admitted he was “flat” after the loss, but said the issue was bigger than his own state of mind.

Eagles head coach Adam Simpson walks from the field. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Asked directly if he felt he was the right person to lead the side forward, he replied: “Yes … What did you think I’d say?”

Simpson said the road ahead would continue to be challenging, but competitiveness was a non-negotiable.

That competitiveness was hard to find on Saturday by his own admission.

“Exposing the kids, leaders playing as well as they can, being competitive, they’ll have to be competitive at training at the moment, because at the moment in-game we’re nowhere near it,” he said.

Things weren’t pretty on Saturday. Photo by Phil Hillyard.

It now appears all-but certain the Eagles will finish on the bottom of the AFL ladder at season’s end, behind 17th-placed North Melbourne by a game and significant percentage.

The injury and availability crisis when combined with underperforming veterans, Simpson said, were a recipe for disaster.

“We’re on a journey and this is the midst of the pit we’re in. We’ve just going to keep turning up, to be honest,” he said.

“Today was really disappointing … we exposed some kids who just probably aren’t quite ready for AFL and some of our senior players were below their best.

“When you get that combination, plus a couple more injuries, you get a game like today. We’ve got to regroup and get on with it.”

Originally published as Adam Simpson’s blunt press conference after Eagles’ horror record loss