Andrew McQualter appointed the new coach of West Coast

West Coast has chosen the man it thinks can lift the club off the bottom of the ladder after three awful seasons.

Former Richmond interim coach Andrew McQualter will take the senior job at West Coast in 2025. Picture: Sarah Reed / Getty Images

West Coast believes new coach Andrew McQualter has a “firm vision” for where he wants to take the struggling club after he was appointed to take over in 2025.

The former Richmond interim coach was unveiled as the Eagles’ pick on Monday after edging out Geelong assistant Steven King and Collingwood’s Hayden Skipworth in the final round of interviews.

The Eagles parted ways with 2018 premiership coach Adam Simpson in July after the club had won only eight of its past 53 games.

West Coast chief executive Don Pyke said McQualter, 38, was ready to step into a full-time senior coach position after he took the reins at Richmond for the second half of 2023 following Damien Hardwick’s departure.

A special message to our members and fans from senior coach Andrew McQualter! pic.twitter.com/df965lYnon

— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) September 29, 2024

“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.”

McQualter, who joined Melbourne as an assistant coach under Simon Goodwin after he was overlooked for the Richmond job, said he had dreamt for a decade of becoming a senior coach.

Melbourne assistant coach Andrew McQualter will take the reins at West Coast in 2025. 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.”

Melbourne football boss Alan Richardson said he was “thrilled” for McQualter as he left the club after one season.

“Andrew has had significant impact on our club since joining us last year,” Richardson said.

“He brought a new perspective to our coaching panel, and this, mixed with his direction and clarity to players, was incredibly beneficial to our program.

“Andrew built some strong relationships, within both football and administration, and while we’re sad to see him go, we’re thrilled to see him get this opportunity.

West Coast is set to lose vice-captain and fullback Tom Barrass to Hawthorn but could gain Richmond midfielders Liam Baker via trade and Jack Graham through free agency after the duo played under McQualter at Punt Road last year.

McQualter played 94 games for St Kilda and Gold Coast and booted 30 goals in 49 games for the Saints across 2009-10 as he played in all three of their grand finals.