AFL 2021: Adam Simpson has issued an apology over his private school comments

West Coast coach Adam Simpson has apologised for suggesting clubs would draft players from private school over those with troubled backgrounds due to budget cuts.

Adam Simpson, Senior Coach of the Eagles during the 2021 AFL Round 18 match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

West Coast coach Adam Simpson has issued an apology over comments linking increased drafting of private school boys from stable family backgrounds to football department budget cuts, which were mainly condemned on social media.

Simpson is understood to be gutted by the reaction to his phrasing in an interview with Melbourne radio station 3AW on Wednesday, saying he used an extreme example to illustrate his point.

Watch The 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Adam Simpson walks off after a loss. Picture: Darren England

“I sincerely apologise if I have offended anyone with the reports that have stemmed from the initial interview,” Simpson said in a statement posted on the club website.

“It was never my intent – nor has it been the club’s position – that any players would receive preferential treatment.”

In the radio interview, Simpson said having less resources would prompt clubs to “go safer” in the draft.

“It does effect who you draft and you develop,” he said.

“You really want to go for the talent and gee this kid needs a lot of help, we can resource that with support around either mental health issues or family support or learning difficulties or these type of things that you’re happy to take a risk on because you can resource it.

“We just don’t have that anymore and you’re more inclined to go safer in the draft and you’ll draft the same type of player.

“You know, mum and dad are still married, the kids go to the private school. They’re not too much of a hassle off-field.

“And you get the same type of player. Whereas I think we all want to see the risk-takers don’t we. And the more resourcing we can have the more risk-takers we can take.”

His line regarding private schools and married parents prompted mostly condemnation on social media after being published in The West Australian.

“The point I was making around drafting young players in the current environment with football department resources being stretched, is that it becomes more difficult to provide the necessary support to help some kids succeed,” Simpson said in the statement.

“Our club and I have always supported diversity and the various pathways available to them to play at the highest level and we will continue to do so. We all love those great stories and celebrate the people who take different journeys to make their mark on the game.

“We all want to see risk-takers, don’t we? We will always select the best players and people for our club. We take great pride in having a positive influence on the players we draft, so they are better players and people whenever they leave the environment.”

The premiership coach has long mounted the argument for maintaining football department spending amid COVID-19 but regretted his phrasing.

In his weekly press conference on Friday, Simpson said “it wasn’t meant to come out like that”.

“When you write an article off a radio interview, it’s hard to get the feel of the conversation,” he said.

“We want to draft talent from anywhere in Australia. But it’s getting a little bit more difficult to develop and harness the talent without the resources.

“And that was the extreme (example) I went to. So take it for what it was.”

Simpson maintained that having fewer resources made it harder to assist players who required help.

“It’s not just the welfare. It’s more the collective development of a player,” he said.

“So there’s mental health, there’s learning, education, obviously football’s the development coaches’ role.

“But there’s a lot of things we do holistically with our players. So when they leave the club, this is every club, they’re better people.

“And they’re better educated, they break the cycle on some occasions and they walk out hopefully with a car and a house and they’re set up. That’s a great career for a player to have.

“It’s more of a challenge to get all those things in place with less resources, that’s all.”

ADAM SIMPSON’S SHOCK DRAFT ADMISSION

West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson claims cuts to club finances could force recruiters to only draft kids from private schools and with two parents.

In a confronting interview on Thursday, Simpson declared it was becoming harder to pick kids who are a “hassle off field” because of reduced soft caps and resources.

“You’re more inclined to go safer in the draft and you’ll draft the same type of player – Mum and Dad are still married, kids go to the private school, not too much of a hassle off-field,” Simpson said on 3AW.

Adam Simpson says soft cap cups have impacted the club’s ability to take risk-takers in the draft. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos

Clubs have been battling in the wake of the AFL cutting $6.2 million from football departments’ soft caps because of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

Simpson said it had impacted the club’s ability to take risk-takers in the draft.

“We’re probably a coach short and a couple of medicos short as well and I’ve said this before but it does affect who you draft and develop,” he said.

“You really want to go for the talent and geez this kid needs a lot of help, we can resource that with support around the mental health issues or family support or learning difficulties. These types of things you’re happy to take a risk on because you can resource it but we just don’t have that anymore.

“Where I think we all like to see the risk takers don’t we?

“The more resourcing we can have the more risk takers we can take and that’s probably the main thing and it’ll affect the product in the long run.”

Simpson was to front the media again on Friday afternoon as part of a club press conference.

MORE TO COME

Originally published as AFL 2021: Adam Simpson has issued an apology over his private school comments