- Kane Cornes accused West Coast players of lacking desire
- The AFL’s identity was not mincing words in Footy Classified
- Coach Adam Simpson was fired on Tuesday after 11 years
AFL commentator Kane Cornes has criticised West Coast for not having a captain to perform the coin toss in a terrible display from the players in what turned out to be Adam Simpson’s final game before he was sacked as head coach on Tuesday.
Cornes was typically outspoken on the Channel Nine programme. Football Classifieds when discussing where the Eagles’ situation went wrong against the Demons in their 54-point defeat at the MCG.
“I think the (West Coast) players need to take some responsibility and their leaders too,” the Port Adelaide great fumed.
‘I was watching the coin toss, why is Jayden Hunt flipping the coin?
‘I want my captain to shake Max Gawn’s hand, then come back and say ‘we’re kicking over here’ and (then) address the group.’
Cornes called the Eagles’ body language “shocking” after they trailed by 37 points in the first quarter.
Co-captain Oscar Allen was then in Cornes’ sights, singled out after he was pushed aside while attempting to challenge a mark.
With West Coast sitting at 3-13 this season and battling to avoid a 16th-place finish, the club announced Tuesday that it has mutually agreed to part ways with Simpson.
AFL commentator Kane Cornes was blunt about the mistakes West Coast made against the Demons, with the club failing to get their captain to toss the coin (pictured)
This comes after Adam Simpson (pictured) was sacked as West Coast Eagles head coach on Tuesday after 11 years in charge.
Simpson could take charge of his final game on Sunday afternoon when the Eagles host Brisbane at Optus Stadium, but both sides have yet to decide how he will be let go.
“The West Coast Eagles and senior coach Adam Simpson have mutually agreed that his 11-year tenure with the club will come to an end,” a statement from the club read.
His contract was due to expire in 2025, and Simpson’s significant payment will be part of the club’s salary cap.
The dual North Melbourne Premiership player, who replaced John Worsfold at West Coast ahead of the 2014 season, coached the Eagles in 242 games and claimed 122 wins.
In 2018, he overcame the absence of two key players – an injured Nic Naitanui and a suspended Andrew Gaff – to successfully mastermind the Eagles’ fourth AFL title.