Adam Simpson appointed new WC coach - fans feel 'less shame'

[ep2018]

Don't forget the fact that Shuey and Darling are both being traded to Hawthorn.

Can people get off the Darling ducking thing? No one noticed his fist knock his own jaw?

 

[ImperialPurple]

I have read this rumor already and re-posted it the other day on our board.

Both WC and Freo have tried a couple of times to convince him to come on board as a coach, but in 2011 he stated he needed another 12 months to get his business interests in order. Said he was still very keen on coaching in the near future.

He would be a great fit for the midfield development coach role vacated by Eastaugh. Smart player, wise footy head, down to earth and a great communicator. Hope the rumor is true.

Didn't know it was already out there as a rumour. I was just thinking about how much Belly was talking Simpson up on the radio, pretty much as soon as Worsfold quit, and also talking about what a great person he is and how he would be a wonderful coach to work with - and I also remembered how he said he would like to move into coaching one day.

I'm pretty sure he's quite comfortable in Perth at the moment (not to say he would never move - I wouldn't know), what with his media commitments and his new gig on 6PR, which clearly would have to go in the event of a new career move. His wife is a doctor so I'm pretty sure they would have to factor her career into any decisions also, plus they have a couple of little ones, so if he is interested in moving into coaching, this would seem to be a case of "everything's aligned".


...other than the part about the dreaded evil empire arch enemies of all that he loves and cherishes as dear to him part of the equation...

 

[tazaa]

Well if he was found in an orphanage in vietnam hed be a good assistant for simmo.

 

[lmach]

Simpson renowned for putting his head over the ball and playing hard but fair.

Few Eagles players in for a culture shock.

I mean, Simmo played with the Duck. He won't want to coach a bunch of them though.

The tears continue to flow.

 

[stralia]

Can people get off the Darling ducking thing? No one noticed his fist knock his own jaw?

Facts are meaningless. You can use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true. Facts schmacts.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Simpson renowned for putting his head over the ball and playing hard but fair.

Few Eagles players in for a culture shock.

I mean, Simmo played with the Duck. He won't want to coach a bunch of them though.

Perhaps Swallow and Thomas being at North Melbourne - put him off coaching his old team...

 

[Tas]

Perhaps Swallow and Thomas being at North Melbourne - put him off coaching his old team...

For anyone who seriously considers coaching at the highest level they need to broaden their experience and get fresh ideas from other clubs, it is probably why Sumich was on the hose a bit, spent too long at the Eagles.

 

[the harry]

For anyone who seriously considers coaching at the highest level they need to broaden their experience and get fresh ideas from other clubs, it is probably why Sumich was on the hose a bit, spent too long at the Eagles.

Would have meant he could have come in and cut the fat from the list now and not spent 12 months eveluating the list like MM at Carlton this year and seemingly like Simpson next.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

For anyone who seriously considers coaching at the highest level they need to broaden their experience and get fresh ideas from other clubs, it is probably why Sumich was on the hose a bit, spent too long at the Eagles.

Yeah. Has played for Souths (Fremantle Oval) & West Coast (Subiaco Oval), then coached South Fremantle (Fremantle Oval), assisted at West Coast (Subiaco Oval) and is now assisting at Freo (Fremantle Oval) - hasn't done much out of Subiaco and Freo oval since he began playing

Would definitely have needed to assist outside of WA to really broaden his experience if he wanted a shot at the full time gig

Also Simpson needs one of these hats:

 

[Pj.Rj.Hj]

Tom Landry Hat

 

[the harry]

Yeah. Has played for Souths (Fremantle Oval) & West Coast (Subiaco Oval), then coached South Fremantle (Fremantle Oval), assisted at West Coast (Subiaco Oval) and is now assisting at Freo (Fremantle Oval) - hasn't done much out of Subiaco and Freo oval since he began playing

Would definitely have needed to assist outside of WA to really broaden his experience if he wanted a shot at the full time gig

Really? While I agree it wouldn't have hurt, it was only Simpson "interviewing extremely well" that stopped him getting this one.

 

[Purple Suit]

Yeah. Has played for Souths (Fremantle Oval) & West Coast (Subiaco Oval), then coached South Fremantle (Fremantle Oval), assisted at West Coast (Subiaco Oval) and is now assisting at Freo (Fremantle Oval) - hasn't done much out of Subiaco and Freo oval since he began playing

Would definitely have needed to assist outside of WA to really broaden his experience if he wanted a shot at the full time gig

Also Simpson needs one of these hats:

He also has to do some cutting. A lot of cutting...

 

[Anja_Nees]

Amazing how the reputation of these assistant coaches is built - we really don't have much of an idea of what impact they make.

But yes, Simmo is really well regarded. Was surprised when we got him, he had either played the year before or only been out for a year. He was raw, but has clearly come along in leaps and bounds.

Apart from winning premierships - the next major achievement for a successful coach is to see his assistants reach success. Getting senior roles is one thing - watching them succeed is another.

Clarkos boy Dimma has finally got Richmond playing finals (despite the disappointing result). Now, as a Clarko fan I will also be watching GWS and west coast, to see them both rise up the ladder.

I wonder if left footers will become prime cattle in these future years?

I've never really understood how people can become so convinced about assistants' abilities from outside the club. You're right, we have no idea.

Good luck to Simpson. He has done a great apprenticeship.

 

[Tas]

Would have meant he could have come in and cut the fat from the list now and not spent 12 months eveluating the list like MM at Carlton this year and seemingly like Simpson next.

The list manager and the football department as a whole should have the ultimate say on who is cut. Simpson is going to come in and he is going to run with a different style of play to Woosha so making calls on players based on the way Woosha wanted the team to play aren't going to necessarily be compatible.

Imagine if Ross Lyon got rid of players based on their peformance based on how Mark Harvey made Freo play, would some of the players who adapted to the way Lyon goes about it have been around?

You might look at it as it being a wasted season but if he can rejuvinate players who have gone down in value due to a poor year then it is better than having a fire sale for guys like Shuey, Gaff, etc.

Simpson is likely going to do what Clarkson did with Hawthorn, they will put a premium on players with good endurance and good kicking skills, but he will use them to compliment the players he already has. Guys like Sewell and Mitchell weren't elite kicks when Clarkson came in, Sewell probably is still a bit average with his disposal but they still play a valuable role in the side. Simpson will focus more on new recruits being absolutely the type of players he wants and he will try to rehabilitate as much of the list as possible, those that can't be converted will be cut. It is too difficult to replace so many players, so much invested with high value picks in a short period of time.

That evolution will take a year or two as a minimum. Ross Lyon walked into a better quality list than Simpson has for the style of footy he wanted to play. I don't think he will try and copy Hawthorn, he will probably try to salvage part of the 2011/12 style of footy and insert more possession and skill based elements into the game and do that by recruiting more players that can pull that off. Even if you need to get rid of 10 guys from the best 22, it is pointless doing so until you have 10 better quality people at your disposal. Just getting rid of people and hoping who you get in will make it is a recipe for disaster.

 

[NMFC 1811]

Hopefully the club and the fans give the bloke the time and patience he deserves if they need to rebuild a bit, as an 'outsider' the wolves will be out very quickly if he struggles with them for a couple of years.

With the Purple neighbour up and about he'll be under pressure from the get go. Wish him the best except against us.

 

[Darcy 2 Fyfe]

Longmuir and Bell at WCE, Sumich at Freo. Things getting too cosy in the west. Bring back Dale Kickett!

 

[Forward Press]

Also Simpson needs one of these hats:

Coach Simpson: Good practice, boys. Now it's time for the easiest part of any coach's job. The cuts. Although I wasn't able to cut everyone I wanted to, I have cut a lot of you. Hams is cut. Embley is cut. Nicoski, you're gone. Swifty, I like your hair...

Coach Simpson: ...that's why it was so hard to cut you.

 

[PowerForGood]

Good on him. Love seeing new coaches in the AFL

You should be - with Sheedy moving on, it's only Malthouse and Lyon who are not on their 1st coaching stint.

Interesting comparison with NFL coaching in the US.
Here the club boards take the "safe" option by getting rookie coaches, which buys them time if it doesn't work out immediately. Any team that doesn't go down that route (eg Malthouse at Carlton) gets roasted in the press if they don't bring immediate success.
In the US, the opposite is true. Getting experienced head coaches is seen as the "safe" option, especially with the number of assistant / specialist coaches in their team.

 

[Billy ray]

and now that he has been sacked, fans again feel 'less shame'