In the AFL world, you’d be hard-pressed to find a coach under as much fire as West Coast Eagles’ Adam Simpson. After a disastrous 2023 season, with the team scraping together a single victory in 14 games and landing at the bottom of the ladder, Simpson’s leadership has become the epicentre of a grand AFL debate.

Yet, in spite of an outcry for immediate changes from top down, the Eagles can’t afford to sever ties with their embattled coach. The club, even though being the wealthiest in the AFL, finds itself in an economic predicament that makes any swift moves untenable.

The complexities of Simpson’s contract, in place until 2025, are a formidable obstacle to his departure. His sacking would entitle him to an estimated $2.5 million, a sum already large enough to give any club pause for thought. But the AFL’s stringent rules add to the Eagles’ financial woes. A hefty luxury tax, 200% on any breach over the soft cap of $500,000, would mean the club would owe an astronomical $4.5 million to the AFL in addition to Simpson’s payout. In essence, the Eagles are looking at a potential financial hit of up to $7 million, not including the cost of securing a new coach.

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There’s a sense of irony in the situation; West Coast, arguably the richest club in the competition, held hostage by its own fiscal considerations.

However, Simpson’s position wasn’t the only one scrutinized. Strength and conditioning manager Warren Kofoed was shown the door, stirring up the waters even more. Kofoed, a stalwart of the club’s off-field preparation through a period of success that included the 2018 premiership, was a pivotal figure in the club’s operations. The timing and repercussions of his exit have left a sour taste with some.

Former Eagles player, Will Schofield, voiced his concerns, “What a remarkable time to release this… he ain’t and shouldn’t be the fall guy for this. In my 10 years under Warren Kofoed, myself nor teammates were not ravaged by injuries,” he posted on Twitter.

The road ahead for the Eagles remains rocky. Simpson acknowledged the current shortcomings in no uncertain terms: “Exposing the kids, leaders playing as well as they can, being competitive, they’ll have to be competitive at training at the moment, because at the moment in-game we’re nowhere near it.”

Despite the dismal state of affairs, it seems that for now, the club will stick with Simpson as the captain of this beleaguered ship. He remains at the helm, facing the storm, with a contract that has, ironically, turned from a safety net into a chain. Only time will tell if this decision will allow the Eagles to take flight once more.