West Coast Eagles finally give Adam Simpson news he’s been waiting for

Speculation over Adam Simpson’s future has raged all year long and now West Coast has made a call on its senior coach.

Adam Simpson (left), West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett (top right) and retiring captain Luke Shuey. Photos: Getty Images and AAP

Adam Simpson’s future at West Coast has been the subject of speculation for months and when the decision finally dropped on Monday night, it caught everyone off guard.

Simpson has been with the Eagles since way back in 2014, leading the club to a premiership four years later.

The club has been slidingly dramatically since then, capped by a 17th-place finish in 2022 and now just the second wooden spoon in club history 12 months later.

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It was widely expected Simpson would not survive beyond this season, despite holding a contract through until the end of the 2025 season.

But Simpson had remained defiant about his future and the club released a statement on Monday evening to say the club has faith in the 47-year-old and is backing him to continue the complete rebuild of the fallen giants.

Adam Simpson (right) has been fighting for his future at the Eagles all season long. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

There was a large sum of money involved if the club was to terminate Simpson’s contract early.

A payout to Simpson plus a large reported tax component put his sacking at around $4 million, although West Coast is one of the biggest and most profitable clubs in the AFL, despite its recent issues.

It was an announcement met with widespread shock among AFL circles.

“Adam Simpson has risen from the dead,” Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.

“This is extraordinary. I think he was gone, I think the AFL spoke to them about the payment methods for that potential $4 million, everyone believed that he was gone.

Well done to the board for not allowing outside influences to cloud their judgement on the coaching staff and Adam Simpson , after all he did won a premiership only 5 years ago, and crippled by injuries the last few seasons.

— georgios,👁️⚫️⚪️⚫️ (@GeorgeFlor41759) August 28, 2023

“The club has worked through some of those issues, worked through some of the costs, I’m fascinated.

“I spoke to his manager Shane Casley at lunch time today, Adam had no idea, he was just sitting there waiting. It is remarkable.”

Ralph said there is still speculation the club would like to implement a succession plan for Simpson in the next year or two.

Eagles great Dean Cox, a current assistant coach at the Sydney Swans, is a name that has been mentioned.

SIMMO STAYS!
The Eagles confirm Adam Simpson IS the man to lead the club forward.

STATEMENT | https://t.co/ThDgCIBYfMpic.twitter.com/uhb6Chsdx5

— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 28, 2023

.@RalphyHeraldSun provides the latest news on West Coast backing in Adam Simpson as their coach.

📺Watch #OnTheCouch on Ch. 504 or stream via @kayosports: https://t.co/cy5fYmMkrNpic.twitter.com/YLVFBlIBhd

— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 28, 2023

For now, the West Australian club confirmed the news that few were expecting.

“At the meeting today, the Board unanimously agreed that Adam will remain as senior coach,” Chairman Paul Fitzpatrick said in part of a statement on the club’s website.

“No one knows our playing list better than Adam and he has already steered us through the first phase of the rebuild.

“We are confident he can take us forward and take us where we aspire to be.

“Our season came to an end on Saturday night and we finished at the foot of the premiership table. That does not sit well with anyone at the club and we are all aware that there is much work to be done to return as a force in the competition.

Adam Simpson (left), West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett (top right) and retiring captain Luke Shuey. Photos: Getty Images and AAP

“Some of the work that is required to improve has already started and it will continue in the off-season and through the pre-season.”

“We know we need to be better across all aspects in the football program.

“We will again go to the draft where we currently hold the first selection and we will look to bring in some elite youngsters with that and other selections.

“We are also open to bringing in players through the trade period who fit our needs and list profile.

“Adam is central to our development plans to assist the club’s rise up the ladder.”