Andrew McQualter appointed next coach of West Coast

On his way into the West Coast Eagles’ HQ for the first time on Monday, Andrew McQualter looked at the trophy cabinet’s empty fifth plinth and vowed to waste no time in filling it.

Andrew McQualter had “one hand on the wheel” as interim coach of Richmond.

But the new West Coast senior coach will have both on the Eagles’ rebuild, even if he admitted he nearly left the road when chief executive Don Pyke called him on Sunday morning to offer him the position.

McQualter beat out Collingwood’s Hayden Skipworth and Geelong’s Steven King in the race to become West Coast’s next head coach after the club parted ways with Adam Simpson earlier this year.

He becomes the Eagles’ seventh senior coach in their 38-year history after helping oversee Richmond’s three premierships as an assistant and brief successor to Damien Hardwick before moving to Melbourne this year.

McQualter found out he’d won the job while driving to visit his brother in Inverloch on Sunday.

“It’s been a heavy 24 hours,” he said in his first press conference as West Coast coach. “I was in country Victoria yesterday driving in the heavy rain when Don called.

“It was a moment where I was really proud and excited. There were a lot of mixed emotions. There was a moment when I thought ‘Wow, this is real.’

“I’ve always admired this football club. They’ve been a winning organisation since they’ve come into this league. It’s been a challenging few years from a football side of things but the club is set to really grow and we’ll look to move forward in the next few years.”

Andrew McQualter, senior coach of the Eagles speaks to the media together with Paul Fitzpatrick and Don Pyke. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

While several high-profile candidates like club greats Dean Cox and Ash Hansen pulled out of the race, McQualter said it was “an incredible job”.

His pitch to the West Coast selection panel was built on his understanding of success and what was required to take the Eagles back to contention.

McQualter highlighted the Eagles AFLW team, led by first-year coach Daisy Pearce, as an example of how quickly things can change in football. And as he walked into the club’s headquarters for the first time, he passed four AFL premiership cups and an empty fifth pillar.

“Let’s fill it up,” he said. “I’ve been really fortunate to spend time in some wonderful organisations and be a part of success.

Meet Andrew and the McQualter family!

Come with us as CEO Don Pyke visited their home. pic.twitter.com/knEhzhzTFt

— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) September 30, 2024

“A lot of it (his presentation to the panel) was talking about what I thought created a successful culture in those places and ultimately what I think leads to winning. That’s what we’re here to do – win games of football.

“From day one, we need to improve. There’s no doubt about that. We need to get better every day.”

McQualter said that he’d get to work on implementing a new game plan and structure, taking the best of the Tigers and Demons.

“I’m really clear on the way I want the game to look and to play,” he said. “It will be different to the way West Coast have played for the last little while.

Andrew McQualter poses with his daughters Emily and Alice after being announced as Eagles coach. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

“That should be really exciting to the guys in the room. We’ll create a style that suits us and puts us in the best position to win games of football.

“We’ll play a game that’s not too dissimilar to what I’ve learnt in my time at the Richmond and Melbourne footy clubs. We’ll implement a style that’s a mixture of both those teams with our own spin on it.”

Pyke said that McQualter’s background in development and fresh approach got him across the line, shooting down criticism of how tough the task ahead may be.

“People will say it took a long time and whatever else but it took a long time for a reason because we wanted to get the right person to give the club the opportunity to get a fresh start,” he said. “I know some people will say ‘poison chalice’ but I see it as a great opportunity.

“Bringing someone into the club with fresh eyes and a new way of doing things, you’ll be amazed at what we can achieve.”

McQualter wasn’t short of personality either, joking that it didn’t take him long to realise that he wanted to be a senior coach.

“Probably about the three times I got delisted before I was 25,” McQualter said with a wry grin. “I realised I wasn’t going to have much of a career.

“I’m just a kid from the country who works hard. I’ve been a resilient guy. I’ll just look to be a great relationship person but demand high standards of people as well.”

McQualter shut down questions about Richmond pair Liam Baker and Jack Graham who look set to join West Coast in the upcoming player movement period.

MINI CLIMBS INTO EAGLES’ HOT SEAT

Andrew McQualter has won the race to become West Coast’s new senior coach.

The former Richmond interim and assistant coach was announced as the next Eagles coach on Monday morning.

McQualter beat Collingwood assistant Hayden Skipworth and Geelong’s Steven King for the role.

McQualter coached Richmond last year after Damien Hardwick stepped down but wasn’t able to land the senior gig at the Tigers.

He then went to be an assistant at Melbourne.

The Eagles had been on the lookout for a new senior coach after they parted ways with premiership coach Adam Simpson.

McQualter said he was ready for the daunting challenge of leading the Eagles back up the ladder after several years of struggle.

Andrew McQualter will be the next Eagles coach. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“I have been working towards this moment for the last 10 years and I’m thrilled to be appointed as coach of the West Coast Eagles,” McQualter said.

“I am aware that there is much work to do and I am definitely up for that.

“There is some exciting young talent at the club with a mix of outstanding players and I couldn’t be more excited to get over there and get to work with them.”

McQualter will have an exciting young core at his disposal, led by rising superstar Harley Reid.

West Coast chief executive Don Pyke said the three-time premiership assistant was the perfect candidate.

“We believe Andrew has the professional and personal qualities and experience required to guide our team. We are excited to have someone of his calibre leading our football program forward,” Pyke said.

“We were in a fortunate position where we had three exceptional candidates short-listed with Andrew possessing the credentials and vision needed to help us make strong progress.

“Andrew has a firm vision of what needs to be done and is ready to embrace the opportunity of being an AFL senior coach.

“We welcome Andrew, Jane, Emily, Alice and Georgia to our West Coast family.”

Originally published as Andrew McQualter appointed next coach of West Coast