West Coast’s crisis ‘much bigger’ than nightclub scandal

It’s hard to remember West Coast ever being this wretched — and a stunning report claims the problems run much deeper.

West Coast Eagles leave the field. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

The Eagles are in crisis as the fallout continues following the club’s nightclub scandal.

West Coast on Monday fined seven players who attended a Perth nightclub $5000 each, while labelling their actions “irresponsible and disrespectful”.

Coach Adam Simpson was “furious” when it emerged two players had attended the Leederville nightclub following the Eagles humiliating 109-point loss to Richmond.

But since last week the number of players who broke club protocol by going out rose to seven and the club came down hard on them on Monday.

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West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett, who on Monday morning said the players involved were “ashamed and embarrassed” met the playing group and informed them of the penalties.

Defenders Jackson Nelson and Josh Rotham, as well as Jake Waterman, pre-season recruits High Dixon and Patrick Naish, and youngsters Campbell Chesser and Rhett Bazzo were all at the nightclub and copped the penalty, with half to be suspended.

Adam Simpson and Josh Kennedy. Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Rotham, Waterman and Naish also played in last week’s loss to Brisbane, while some of the players could not be considered because they entered AFL health and safety protocols.

That forced the Eagles to call up two players, which made the behaviour of the fined players even worse.

The pressure is building on senior officials at the club — and veteran footy journalist Caroline Wilson suggested on Monday night the problems run deep at the football club.

“There is a collective issue at that footy club,” she said on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.

“It’s much bigger than players not taking covid protocols seriously. But when seven players get together for a drink and they decide to go out when they’ve been told not to — it’s a bigger issue.

“There’s a lot more going on at West Coast than just injury and illness. It’s to do with list management and conditioning a disconnect clearly between players and coach. There really is a problem at the Eagles. And it’s just really weird to see the behaviour, the game style, the body language that we’re seeing at the moment. It’s not something we’re used to.”

Essendon legend Mattew Lloyd told the same program it was “the biggest slap in the face for a coach” and suggested Simpson may be thinking about leaving the club.

It came after Fox Footy analyst David King also suggested his former North Melbourne teammate may be fed up enough to pull the pin.

“A major part of this is how the information reached Adam,” King told SEN on Monday.

“That there were five more players. Did they come forward and see him? Were they called out? The lies after the lies in the end hit home about what your culture really is.

“The two (players) you can understand because there is going to be a percentage of error with 50 young men in your group. But seven, does it impact his thought process of whether to roll on through this rebuild process? Because a fair few of those players are going to be involved in the rebuild.”

Fingers are now being pointed at West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett.

The long-serving powerbroker was roasted during Monday night’s episode of Up Late with Ben Harvey.

The lowest of the low. Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Harvey said on the streamed news and current affairs show it was time for Nisbett to hang up the boots as a result of the on-field and off-field issues.

The West Australian newspaper has also eluded to a “civil war” dividing the club.

Harvey said on Monday Nisbett has had too many lives to still be the club’s top official.

“If Putin presses the button the only thing left alive will be cockroaches and Trevor Nisbett,” Harvey said.

“This guy has more lives than any executive in modern Australian history.”

Nisbett has been at the club since 1989 and was promoted to the position of CEO in 1999.

He was also in charge of the club throughout its infamous drug culture, highlighted by Ben Cousins leaving the club in 2007.

The front cover of The West Australian. Photo: Facebook.

West Coast Eagles now face Melbourne. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

“You (Nisbett) have been CEO for 22 years. Modern corporate governance doesn’t tolerate that type of tenure for a clean-skin, let alone someone with as much baggage as you,” Harvey said.

“You’ve been on borrowed time since 2008 so how about giving the club a real chance at a real fresh start — and hanging up the boots?”

Nisbett spoke publicly on Monday.

“Given the club’s protocols and current circumstances it was irresponsible and disrespectful for those players to attend a nightclub,” Nisbett said.

“After completing our investigation, we have decided to fine each of the players who broke specific club and player guidelines.

“We will continue to educate our players and those who transgressed will now need to regain the trust and respect of their teammates as well as everyone else at the club.”

— with NCA NewsWire