AFL: West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett to step away after 2024 season

West Coast will start to rebuild its besieged off-field leadership – but there’s a twist to when a key personnel change will occur.

West Coast Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett says he will step down when his term expires at the end of the 2024 season. Picture: Richard Wainwright / AAP

Change is coming at West Coast following one of the worst years in the club’s proud history but it’s not in the coaching box, with long-serving chief executive Trevor Nisbett announcing he’ll depart the club at the end of next season.

The veteran administrator will see through his tenure at the club despite its on-field woes but will become the first significant personnel change amid the Eagles’ rebuild.

West Coast lost five games by more than 100 points during 2023 and finished last on the AFL ladder and has won just five games in the past two seasons.

But last month the club board unanimously backed Adam Simpson to remain as senior coach.

However, club chairman Paul Fitzpatrick said “the time is now right” for change in the club’s management and Nisbett confirmed on Wednesday THAT he would not seek re-election to his post when his term expires in October 2024.

West Coast said it would conduct an “extensive external search” to replace Nisbett, who has been at the helm of the Eagles for 25 years and worked at the club since 1989.

West Coast’s board, including former Australian Test cricketer Justin Langer, unanimously backed Adam Simpson (pictured) to remain as senior coach. Picture: Paul Kane / Getty Images

“No one in the history of our club has matched the impact that Trevor has had on our club and we will forever be indebted to him,” Fitzpatrick said.

“But we agree the time is now right to implement a succession plan and we will begin the search for the next CEO, given Trevor is not seeking to extend his tenure.

“Trevor will remain as chief executive until his successor is in place and will assist in the transition. It is a daunting task to replace Trevor and we expect it will take some time to complete.”

West Coast Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett will leave the club at the end of the 2024 season, with a search under way for his replacement. Picture: Richard Wainwright / AAP

The only other off-season personnel change made by West Coast has been the appointment of Mathew Inness as high performance manager on Tuesday.

Inness crossed over from the Western Bulldogs, where had been head of sport science and physical performance since 2015.

Former Eagles fitness boss Warren Kofoed had been the first domino to fall during the season, as an unprecedented injury crisis persistently plagued the club throughout 2022 and 2023.

West Coast premiership player Will Schofield denounced the move at the time, saying Kofoed “shouldn’t be the fall guy” for the on-field crisis.

“In my 10 years under Warren Kofoed, myself nor teammates were not ravaged by injuries,” Schofield posted on Twitter.