- The Eagles have won just five games in the last two seasons.
- The coach is under pressure, despite having won the title in 2018
- Players have sent messages saying they want a new coach.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson says he will speak to his players but will not embark on a “witch hunt” despite a report revealing players have sent text messages declaring they want a new man in charge of the struggling Eagles.
Simpson appeared before the media on Friday for his weekly press conference, hours after a local newspaper detailed text messages from three players to people outside the club stating they wanted Simpson to leave.
The revelations came after West Coast’s shock 61-point home loss to Hawthorn last weekend, compounding problems for a team that has lost six games by more than 50 points in 2024 and won just five games in the past two seasons.
Simpson, who led the Eagles to the 2018 championship, is under contract through 2025 and the club could face a payout of up to $6 million if he is released.
But the manager is defiant, convinced he still has the support of the playing group, and a “disgruntled” minority is nothing new at a club that is not winning.
“It’s not ideal, but it’s not uncommon either,” Simpson said.
‘It happened when I was under Denis (Pagan), when I was working with Clarko (Alastair Clarkson); it happens all the time.
“I’m not going to check everyone’s phones, let’s put it that way.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson is under further pressure following reports of player malaise
Simpson is not going on a witch hunt to find out which players sent the text messages.
“We have 15 to 20 players who don’t play a game every week and we probably have 10 players who will be off the roster at the end of the year,” Simpson continued.
“There are always people who are unhappy. It’s part of the job. We can’t apologise for trying to improve, but I think I still have the support of the players.”
Simpson said he would speak to all the players to “take the pain” out of the story when they met at the airport on Friday afternoon before the team left for Melbourne for Sunday’s clash with the Demons at the MCG.
“I’ll talk to the kids because I’m not hunting witches,” Simpson said.
-It’s not that at all. It’s a bit dirty from the newspaper’s point of view, but that’s fine. You’re doing your job and I’ll do mine.
‘You’re exaggerating a bit just because you saw three players texting each other.
“It’s our life, we deal with it every day. I’ll talk to the players today and we’ll try to unite and be better this weekend.”
Simpson said he was “committed to building” and had no intention of walking away from the club.