Robbo: Adam Simpson’s coaching death was by a 1000 bad quarters

Adam Simpson and West Coast probably should have parted ways at the end of last year. It meant Simpson’s sacking was the least surprising bombshell of 2024, writes MARK ROBINSON.

Adam Simpson walks to a press conference with Don Pyke (WCE CEO) and Paul Fitzpatrick (WCE Chair) after Simpson and the club agreed to part ways. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

Always, there’s layers of retrospection when a coach is sacked.

The first thought was for Adam Simpson. It probably should’ve happened at the end of last year, but Simpson got another go in 2024, and although jaded by the end, he gave it his all.

He was the same as a 300-game player at North Melbourne. He was no-frills and did his job and other than an unfortunate video gag with a stuffed chicken, Simpson never caused a ripple.

In fact, the pretend dating with said chicken was more of a news bombshell when it broke than when the Eagles dispatched an email to announce Simpson’s time was over by “mutual decision’’.

West Coast Eagles 2024: Adam Simpson’s coaching tenure ends after months of speculation

His sacking was the smallest bombshell of the season. This wasn’t death by one thousand cuts, it was death by a thousand bad quarters. At least, it felt like it.

“I don’t know how shocked everyone is to be honest, there’s been a fair bit of tension in the last couple of years, in particular the last few weeks,” Simpson said of the build-up.

There’s no ideal timing for a sacking, but this one, according to all parties, felt right.

On Monday night, Simpson had spoken of his determination to continue coaching but only hours later, West Coast chief executive Don Pyke broke the news to him.

Adam Simpson walks to a press conference with Don Pyke (CEO) and Paul Fitzpatrick (Chairman) after Simpson and the club agreed to part ways. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

Simpson said he felt sadness and relief after the Pyke conversation. For his family.

The torment for loved ones in a two-team town, in fact for any coach of a poor-performing team, must be challenging. If you haven’t lived it, it’s impossible to assess the depth of impact.

A decent man, Simpson saved his parting shot for the media. Basically, it was to treat people better. We’re not sure if was talking about himself, his family or his players.

He goes carrying the can for all of West Coast’s misadventure over the past four years.

He is to take some blame, because he was the coach, and in the time of rebuilding he probably gave too many extra games to his premiership players. Jack Darling is one. And maybe Shannon Hurn played a season too long.

But all coaches need cattle and it felt, in the past couple of years, Simpson had a paddock of broken down old bulls and a bunch of weaners who weren’t top dollar at the sales.

Tim Kelly was supposed to help, but recruiting him from Geelong for 2019 was, in hindsight, the wrong decision. They paid the Cats plenty to get him and the Cats knocked over the Eagles in the semi-final of that year.

From that game, the Eagles began the slide to what was to oblivion.

As the jungle drums banged away, Simpson was criticised for not being a development coach in the latter testing years, but we’re not sure that stacks up. He took the team to the 2015 Grand Final and then won the 2018 premiership.

He made average players good. And good players great.

Even Pyke noted on Tuesday that Simpson’s analytics and ability to teach in 2015 when Pyke also went for the Eagles coaching role, was still evident in 2024.

So, Simpson is the first coach gone in 2024, and the odds are he won’t be the last.

His replacement will have three leading untried contenders Jaymie Graham (currently at Fremantle), Dean Cox (Sydney) and Ashley Hansen (Carlton), while former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley will be linked to every available position until he takes a job.

Adam Simpson addresses the media on Tuesday. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

Would he leave his boys in Victoria? That would be tough for him and them. It’s why Tasmania seems a better fit. It’s four years away.

The new coach will have even more pressure on him than a regular new appointee.

It comes in the name of Harley Reid.

The wonderkid seems happy and invested, but he is at a club that doesn’t win games and has just sacked its coach.

Strange events happen in footy and just maybe Harley might now want to get out.

Even if he stays after this season, his relationship with the next coach will be watched ever so keenly.

Because if Victorian clubs sense there’s any semblance of unrest, this year or next, they will try to drive the wedge.

The sacking of Simpson might’ve been seamless, but betcha clubs have already put a call into Harley’s manager.

They’d be mad if they didn’t.

Originally published as Robbo: Adam Simpson’s coaching death was by a 1000 bad quarters