Peter Sumich 'gutted' to miss out on West Coast Eagles coaching job

PETER Sumich says he is 'gutted' to be overlooked as West Coast senior coach and took a swipe at the Eagles' board and discipline. | A bridesmaid again |

Peter Sumich

PETER Sumich says he was 'gutted' to miss out on the West Coast coaching job and said there was still a 'burning desire to be a senior coach.

Sumich said he had re-signed as an assistant coach at Fremantle in the wake of the Eagles announcing that Adam Simpson would be the new Eagles coach.

Speaking with talkback radio 6PR this evening, Sumich said: "I'm gutted, make no doubt about that, and I'm disappointed I didn't get the job.

SUMICH: I thought I was a real good chance. Only third head job I have gone for. I have signed a new deal with Freo. #afl #6pr

— Sports Today (@6PRSportsToday) October 3, 2013

"I thought I was a really good chance again with this one and unfortunately it didn't work out, it got down to the last two, same as Essendon, and just missed out."

Analysis: Sumich a bridesmaid once again

Sumich said he had given it his best shot and had no regrets.

"I suppose the board, they were thinking a little bit differently to a lot of people and they make those decisions," he said.

"I just worry about when boards make decisions, there is usually not too many footy people on them, but that's fine."

SUMICH: I always worry when boards make decisions. Not too many football people on a board #whack #afl #6pr

— Sports Today (@6PRSportsToday) October 3, 2013

However, he recognised that the club may have been looking for a new start with someone from outside the club.

"And that's fair enough, I love the club, I always will because I played in two premierships there and I was an assistant coach with the premiership, so they've been good to me," he said.

"But I've got to move on quickly because I know that Fremantle are going places."

Sumich said there was still a 'burning ambition' to coach and he would continue to apply for senior coaching roles at other clubs.

"But if it doesn't happen, I'm at a great club now and hopefully I can be there long-term but if it doesn't work out for me to be a senior coach, I'm not going to cry over it."

Sumich said that West Coast's discipline would have been an area of attention if he had won the top job, after being asked what he had learned in two years under Ross Lyon.

"I've got no doubt that some of the players, in my opinion, whether it's right or wrong, just need to be brought in line a little bit,' he said.

"I read a tweet by Ash Smith...he tweeted he was sick of seeing purple, go the Hawks.

"I just thought to myself, geez Ash, those little discipline things...you just need to bring back into line. The players shouldn't get out of line with tweeting those types of things."