West Coast recruiting targets likely to make decision on future without knowing who senior coach will be

There are a host of quality players lining up to head west this off-season. But the uncertainty about West Coast’s next senior coach threatens to become a key factor which could hamper the Eagles’ plans.

West Coast’s long list of potential recruits might have been warned they might have to make a leap of faith by deciding to join the Eagles before a senior coach comes on board.

The Eagles are very early in their coaching appointment process as the likes of Geelong’ Steven King and Melbourne’s Andrew McQualter emerge as quality contenders.

Western Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade is seen by many as a future senior coach but as of last week he was yet to be approached in any meaningful way by the Eagles.

GWS coach Brent Montgomery has also been spruiked as a potential candidate but at this stage is not in the race to replace Adam Simpson.

King is understood to have had a preliminary conversation with the Eagles and after taking over from Stuart Dew as an interim coach last year is ready to step up.

Eagles interim coach Jarrad Schofield is likely to be in the process after a solid stint replacing Simpson.

Steven King is seen as one of the top contenders. Picture: Jason McCawley/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Andrew McQualter is also in the mix after his stint as Richmond’s interim coach. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

But the Eagles board will have to go through a full interview process with King and others, which could take place post-Grand Final if the Cats go all the way.

The Eagles made clear this week they still hoped to finish their process by the end of the month.

Yet none of the contenders have had face-to-face interviews with the selection panel which includes CEO Don Pyke, football boss Gavin Bell, directors Rowan Jones and Jan Cooper and consultant Harry Taylor.

At this stage they have had only zoom discussions and none of the detailed interviews that make up a full coaching appointment.

The delay in moving through the process has given rise to speculation the Eagles might be waiting for an experienced coaching contender still in the finals.

Shai Bolton and Jack Graham are two of the star Tigers weighing up their futures. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

But Ken Hinkley is unlikely to head to West Coast given his close family ties to Adelaide, and Dean Cox has repeatedly denied he is a suitor for the job.

So with the free agent period starting on the Friday after the Grand Final, and the trade period kicking off only three days later, the Eagles may not have a coach by the trade period or only days before.

It means the likes of Jack Graham, Liam Baker and Shai Bolton will have to decide upon whether they choose to move to the Eagles before the club has locked in its senior coach.

They have been counselled by those close to them that they might not have a definitive call on the coach by the time they make their decision.

Sam Mitchell and Craig McRae have proved integral in selling their clubs to prospective recruits, even if Chris Scott pretended to be barely aware of Bailey Smith’s existence this week despite his certain move to Geelong.

West Coast is still hopeful that it can secure Richmond vice-captain Baker and has offered double premiership midfielder Graham a four-year deal, which the Tigers have matched.

Shai Bolton looks more likely to head to Fremantle given their draft collateral to hand Richmond multiple early picks to secure their man.

Simpson told RSN this week it was a plum job at the Eagles.

“The club (has) 100,000 members. They are so well connected in WA, they look after your families, they are really good people. When you make those decisions, especially from interstate, that’s the priority. The family is all in. And the football piece, you are not taking over top four sides too often so there is always hard work involved and whoever gets the job will be given time … The only thing that gets you is dealing with the media.”

Originally published as West Coast recruiting targets likely to make decision on future without knowing who senior coach will be