‘Worst ever’: Eagles’ ‘ridiculous’ Adam Simpson gesture slammed

Axed West Coast coach Adam Simpson will be farewelled by Eagles fans before their round 18 clash, but has been given a bizarre job to do.

Departed West Coast coach Adam Simpson will toss the coin prior to the Eagles’ Round 18 clash at Optus Stadium, and the decision hasn’t been met with a warm reception.

Simpson rejected the club’s offer to coach a farewell game, with interim boss Jarrad Schofield assuming the head-coaching reins for the remainder of the season — starting this Sunday against the Brisbane Lions.

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Therefore, with Simpson’s Eagles tenure officially done, the coin toss represents the opportunity for fans to honour the premiership-winning mentor.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle on Thursday night, Herald Sun journalist Lauren Wood shared the latest.

“They were weighing up whether he would coach this weekend — of course, the decision has been made that he won’t and Jarrad Schofield is going to take the reins on that front,” Wood began.

“The Eagles were obviously weighing up the best way to farewell Adam Simpson — a premiership coach, he’s been there for 11 years — the report out of the west today is that he will be tossing the coin this weekend against Brisbane.

“Personally, I would’ve gone for more of a stand-up-in-your-seat (sort of thing), put you on the big screen, give you a cheer or maybe something before the game.

“There was a lot weighed up, is my understanding at West Coast, of just how you actually go about this, given the awkwardness particular earlier in the week. It’s been awkward from go to woe.”

Adam Simpson was sacked this week. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

Herald Sun colleague Scott Gullan didn’t hide his disdain at the outcome.

“The Eagles have fumbled this (situation) for 18 months, in my opinion,” he told Fox Footy on Thursday night.

“Now, the toss of the coin, it’s usually (done by) a sponsor or someone who won the raffle at the pub next door. Now you’ve got a legend (doing it) and he’s going to have to walk all the way out there, shake hands with the opposition, sort of smile — it’s ridiculous.

“Seriously, if you can’t think of a better way to say farewell to a premiership coach (than) tossing the coin, this will go down as worst-ever.”

Wood concluded: “It’s not great. Shake hands with the West Coast captain of the team that he won’t be coaching this weekend. It’s not great over there at the moment.”

Talk about awkward. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Later, on Fox Footy’s First Crack, King jokingly predicted Simpson — who is set to cash-in on a lucrative payout — would pocket the coin after lofting it on Sunday.

“Adam Simpson is going to pocket the coin at the end of the coin toss,” King laughed.

“He’s taken everything out of the joint over the last six, seven, eight, 10, 12 years — he’s just going to have one last dip at the West Coast Football Club and steal the coin after tossing it.

“After doing a magnificent job, he earned that as well.”

Schofield will lead the Eagles against the Lions at Optus Stadium this Sunday afternoon at 2:40pm local time.

Originally published as ‘Worst ever’: Eagles’ ‘ridiculous’ Adam Simpson gesture slammed