‘It is tough’: West Coast Eagles boss defends club’s strategy amid grim season
The head of the West Coast Eagles has defended the club’s strategy despite just two wins on the board during the 2023 season.
Club chief executive Trevor Nisbett said he stood by coach Adam Simpson and the players and dispelled rumours circulating, adamant the team was a united front in the fight to rebuild.
West Coast Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett defended the club after a season of loss.
Speaking to Radio 6PR, Nisbett said he had not been seeking a two-year contract extension, but had already signed on for the 2024 season.
He also denied media reports an emergency board meeting had been called, and said Simpson had not been asked to take a break for his mental health.
“That was never discussed. The only thing that was discussed was that coaches are under so much pressure that they need a longer period of time off, and that was the discussion. It was never put to Adam that he needed a mental break or a longer-term break,” he said.
“[Simpson has] got two years to go of his contract and the way he’s conducting himself at the moment under very difficult circumstances, he’s doing a terrific job.
“The circumstances are that we just haven’t had enough availability. We’ve had anything from 12 to 20 players unavailable throughout the last two seasons.
“We need to get that right first, and give Adam an opportunity to have a full squad available for selection and on field.
“You cannot do the specific training we need to do if you haven’t got players available just for training, and you can’t implement game plans if you haven’t got the players available.”
Nisbett said he was disappointed by the false reports, but accepted it could be the result of having such a poor run on the field.
West Coast enjoyed a rare win, denying North Melbourne for a second time at the weekend. Credit: AFL Photos
“Some of our performances haven’t been good enough and we’re aware of that, but there are a lot of circumstances that Adam’s had to deal with over the last two seasons that are extraordinary,” he said.
“Yes, people will be calling for heads. They’ve been calling for mine. They’ve been calling for Adams. That’s normal in world sport in elite sport.
“I’m the head of the football club. I believe I’m the best person to continue in that role in the circumstances. It is tough.”
Discussing the possibility of a team reshuffle for the 2024 season, on the back of Shannon Hurn’s retirement announcement this week, Nisbett said he would be happy for senior players to continue on as long as they were fit enough.
Hurn, the Eagles’ games record-holder and 2018 premier ship captain, announced he was calling time on his career on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old will play his final game against Adelaide at Optus Stadium in round 24.
The veteran defender said he knew the time was right: “Unfortunately, you can’t go on forever and it’s time for me to step away.”
Hurn was All-Australian in the Eagles’ 2018 premiership campaign, and backed it up with a second blazer in 2019 when he was named vice-captain of the team.
He is the only player in the club’s history to have broken the 300-game mark, having 332 outings to his name.
The Eagles sit at the bottom of the ladder after another dismal season, but fans were given a reason to celebrate at the weekend as they broke a club-record losing streak to beat 17th-placed North Melbourne.
West Coast will take on Essendon on Saturday, before playing a derby against the Dockers on August 12.
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