Coach Adam Simpson Megathread est. 2017 - Skip to 2024: Simpson coaching tenure officially ends

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I don’t know why people want to sack the coach it’s clear that rocketing up the ladder to the dizzying heights of 16th has given the guys vertigo leading to us losing to a objectively worse team than Fitzroy at home. Luckily we are missing Hewett, Reid, Allen, Hunt and Kelly and for a team that is objectively the worst performed team we have put on the park in the history of our club over the past 2 years we can’t really expect more than 3 wins this year. Our paper thin list is so full of holes that if we are missing two midfielders to injury the whole midfield assumes the fetal position and we get pumped. Have faith guys Simmo has got this. I mean it looks in the last 2 weeks like he hasn’t but it also looked after Melbourne that the last 2 weeks were definite wins. We must like Oscar the Grouch learn to love trash.
So many giddy little school kids got excited earlier this year and thought the rebuild was almost over and forgot we will still need to replace Yeo, McGovern, Cripps, Darling, Ryan and likey Barrass and Kelly before we are in contention again.

That’s without being concerned if Allen and Hewitt can consistently stay on the park year in, year out.

18 teams (soon to be 19), free agency and academies have truly combined to screw us.
 

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After the past fortnight, his stocks have fallen… Desperately needs the bye to re-assess and rework some things. The concern is that in response to some flagging form, the turning back to experience. My worry with Don is that Don who coached Adelaide would behave in exactly the same way. I hope with his recent experience at Sydney and how they do things (with team selection, promotion of youth, strategy etc.) he will be a sounding board and encouragement for Simmo to keep persisting with youth and lift the energy of the group.

Unless things fall apart completely, you’d think any decision as to whether he fulfils his last year of a contract is made at seasons end. One year is certainly an easier sell to pay out than two. It may well be time.
 
So many giddy little school kids got excited earlier this year and thought the rebuild was almost over and forgot we will still need to replace Yeo, McGovern, Cripps, Darling, Ryan and likey Barrass and Kelly before we are in contention again.

That’s without being concerned if Allen and Hewitt can consistently stay on the park year in, year out.

18 teams (soon to be 19), free agency and academies have truly combined to screw us.
I agree. I have enjoyed this year much more than previous years due to the relative absence of 100 point floggings. But when you look at things more deeply you realise that the problems are still there. Our improved performances have come largely on the back of the veterans playing well (McGovern, Barass, Yeo, Cripps etc). The only youngish player who has genuinely improved is Waterman. Maybe Hough deserves some credit also. Plus Harley Reid has had an instant impact. But there has not been significant improvement in the other young players to the point where you could say that they have shown that with a bit more development they can be counted on to hold down a position in the 22 for the next 5 - 8 years.
 
Think there's a bit of overreacting to the fact we gave North their first win. Doubt Simpson instructed the forwards to kick behinds instead of goals for the first three quarters, that was the number 1 reason we lost the match.

The number 2 reason was the inability of the midfield to win a clearance in the first three quarters, he shifted the magnets and put Ryan in there and that had an immediate effect.

Ultimately he'll be judged on wins and losses. We're 3-10 going into the bye, which is probably the upper reaches of what we would have expected I would have thought? The disappointing factor is that the performances have been extremely uneven, we've had a couple of huges upsets where we've played out of our skin (Melbourne and Fremantle), but then had games where we've been terrible against sides we should beat (Saints and North).

Final 10 games will be a big litmus test - will we see more performances like the Derby and Dees win, or will we see more games like yesterday?

Selection will be a big indicator as well - we need to lean more towards pumping games into younger guys that are going to be part of the team going forward and make some tough decisions on the guys that aren't. We saw Gaff dropped after round 1, we saw Sheed almost dropped after a couple of underwhelming games. Now they're both in the side and the most senior guys left in the WAFL are Rotham and Trew, and we're not looking like a team that gives fans any reason to get excited. Will we see those two back in the WAFL? Will they make a tough decision on Darling to see how an Allen/Waterman/Maric forward combo looks?
 
Re-assess at the end of the year.

Three weeks ago, everyone was singing his praises. This month everyone wants his head, some of you are more emotional than 12 year old girl at Taylor Swift concert.

His objective is to develop a new game plan, which he is doing and can see when we play good footy. And the other is bring these kids upto speed - A few green shoots with Ginbey, Reid, Long and Hough some we need more patience with and gametime - Hewett, Chesser and maybe (Barnett/Bazzo) and some that wont make it at all.

I dont see Simpson being the premiership Coach for our next push, but I dont see the point of putting that Coach in the hot seat when the pressure is on the most. Simpson can hold the fort for now, and at the end of this year or his contract make the call then.
 
Burgiel and Johnson are in the Beagles learning the Gaff role. Hall, Trew and Culley learning the Sheed role. HEdwards and Bazzo the Gov and Barrass role. Dewar, Long the Cripps role. The plan is taking shape it just takes time. In the meantime to win we need every senior player to be in form and Reid to play like Judd. Easy. I'm not sure changing the coach who will have a different game style and player preferences accelerates a rebuild. We are going to be shit for a while yet.
 
Re-assess at the end of the year.

Three weeks ago, everyone was singing his praises. This month everyone wants his head, some of you are more emotional than 12 year old girl at Taylor Swift concert.

His objective is to develop a new game plan, which he is doing and can see when we play good footy. And the other is bring these kids upto speed - A few green shoots with Ginbey, Reid, Long and Hough some we need more patience with and gametime - Hewett, Chesser and maybe (Barnett/Bazzo) and some that wont make it at all.

I dont see Simpson being the premiership Coach for our next push, but I dont see the point of putting that Coach in the hot seat when the pressure is on the most. Simpson can hold the fort for now, and at the end of this year or his contract make the call then.

That’s all good and well but in my mind the rebuild doesn’t really start until we have a new coach. All we are currently doing is giving every new player at this club an old and tired message.
The rebuild starts with a new coach.
 
Our performances have dropped away as soon as we get injuries/suspensions.

Pretty obvious really.

But...

Some team selection and positional moves have been terrible.

and that's on the coach.

Also he's meh and doubt he motivates many

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So I saw the post on twitter from 6pr earlier today about Hardie calling for Simmo's head and just had a chuckle, he's been banging that drum for years...

Anyway, just finally sat down to listen to it and he throws some strong accusations around from about the 6 minute mark. Apparent angst within the player group over the selection of Jack Hutchinson (doesn't say this flat out but insinuates that some players were frustrated by this) & also that Simmo made the call to include Hutchinson after a meeting in which two of the assistants weren't even present.

 
I think that because right now the priority number 1 at the cub will be resigning Harley Reid that will weigh heavily in favour of Simpson getting an extension on his current deal, even if only for one year. There is always an element of chaos, angst and negative thinking at clubs for a while when coaches get sacked. They won't want that in the midst of trying to resign Reid. They will want an atmosphere of calm and stability at the club even if we are losing most of our games.

Not sure I believe Hardie has inside sources at the club that are that inside that they can tell him about disgruntlement amongst the playing and coaching group over a selection decision a few days after it hapenned. Word would have to have travelled very fast from first hand sources for him to hear that so quickly if it has hapenned, as opposed to hearing it 3rd or 4th hand a week or two later.
 
So I saw the post on twitter from 6pr earlier today about Hardie calling for Simmo's head and just had a chuckle, he's been banging that drum for years...

Anyway, just finally sat down to listen to it and he throws some strong accusations around from about the 6 minute mark. Apparent angst within the player group over the selection of Jack Hutchinson (doesn't say this flat out but insinuates that some players were frustrated by this) & also that Simmo made the call to include Hutchinson after a meeting in which two of the assistants weren't even present.



I call this codswallop. You could see when Simmo announced that Hutchy was debuting how happy and excited the others were. Lots of backslapping and whatnot.
 
What I find so frustrating is Simpson's use of McGovern and Barrass. He's bought in Edwards and still left them both in the backline. If we're ever going to find out if Edwards can cut it, 2024 is the time. Instead he subbed him. I would have subbed Williams who did stuff all as usual and moved Gov to CHF and left Harry out there. But no, Simpson stuck to the same structure, which left us 5 goals down, right to the end.
 
I think that because right now the priority number 1 at the cub will be resigning Harley Reid that will weigh heavily in favour of Simpson getting an extension on his current deal, even if only for one year. There is always an element of chaos, angst and negative thinking at clubs for a while when coaches get sacked. They won't want that in the midst of trying to resign Reid. They will want an atmosphere of calm and stability at the club even if we are losing most of our games.

Not sure I believe Hardie has inside sources at the club that are that inside that they can tell him about disgruntlement amongst the playing and coaching group over a selection decision a few days after it hapenned. Word would have to have travelled very fast from first hand sources for him to hear that so quickly if it has hapenned, as opposed to hearing it 3rd or 4th hand a week or two later.

I reckon the only thing against Reid signing is Simmo is the coach. You want to rebuild then clear out all the old crap first.
 
Gee wiz, Glen Jackovich criticising the club and agreeing with Brad Hardie. I assume we just throw him on the heap with Peter Sumich and salt the earth of all the memories. The absolute nerve.

Only listened to a bit because i can only listen to so much Hardie, but Jako wasn't wrong about much in the part I heard

Game has clearly moved past certain players but Simmo keeps picking them
 
If someone had come to me before the start of the year and said we’d have

3 wins by Round 13
3 losses just under 15 points
A percentage of 70 plus
No 100 point losses
A Derby win
Harley Reid dismantles Demons midfield & Oscar Allen only plays one game i would have taken it and run.

Maybe for some this is setting the bar too low, for others it's just plastering over the cracks, however the more I evaluate the season I'm content with how it’s unfolding.

This doesn't mean i'm not frustrated with losing to North but let’s face it, we kick straighter in those 3 quarters and we probably win. Kelly and Hunt play against St Kilda and we probably win that too.

We’re a rebuilding side. It doesn’t take much to be off and lose a winnable game but that also doesn’t mean that at times it won’t all click and we won’t get an unexpected win.

If we finish the year with 5-7 wins, a percentage in the 70’s, fewer 100 point thrashings, growth in our youth and a few more debuts I’ll be rapt. That's light years from 2023.

Add to that a more competitive WAFL side, no serious injuries leading into next year, and another high draft pick and a few new recruits and there is a lot to be hopeful about heading into 2025.

No doubt the drums will start beating for Simmo again, someone has to face the anger but i think some may have forgotten where we are coming from last year and where we are now. A few false dawns made some re evaluate expectations but the road of a rebuild is never a straight line and i'm content with Simmo and the path taken so far.
 
The 3 years of Harley factor is a massive issue with regard to Simpson, perhaps the issue. We probably need to have a really good 2025 to keep Him. We probably also need to sign Harley on for his next multi year deal before the end of 2025. I think we probably need to unexpectedly play finals next year to do that. Don Pyke should be wholly focussed on facilitating this and urgently making whatever moves necessary to give us the best chance of succeeding in that goal. We probably can't do that without stability and a consistent game plan though, which is good for Simpson.

We have the players and the home ground advantage needed to do this. A drop off is coming after that for maybe 1-2 years as we lose the last of the best of our 2018 side. The right way to look at 2025/2026 is like it's going to be 2011/12. Mix of very good new and very good old players, and unexpected finals tilts that's fall short. Sort of a false dawn that lays the foundation for the next genuine window.

If we sack Simpson at the end of this year a new coach and new game plan and fresh start for all the players might still spark this, but more likely it leads to a step backwards as the best 22 shuffles around to fit a new coach and new system. Maybe that works ok and sets us up for a big 2026 and we sign Harley late that year. Alternatively 2025 is a disaster and 2026 is merely ok and the lure of going home is too strong. What this actually means in terms of our re-build is not good, as we lose Harley the same year we lose our other champions and the compensation is likely more 18 year olds. No thanks.

With this in mind, the two scenarios around coaching would be:

Back Simmo in to sort his new game plan out in the back of 2024. There is a hell of a lot to figure out about this team when we finally get a fit side on the park after the bye:

  • Figuring out what to do up forward with regard to Oscar and Waterman, and who the hell supports them next year out of Darling, Maric, Hutchinson, Williams, Williams.
  • Figuring out if Flynn/Williams is what it's cracked up to be, and if it is building some synergy with Yeo, Kelly, Reid while also rotating through the next rung.
  • Deciding if we are going to just back in McGovern and Barrass every week until they retire, and figure out who out of Harry Edwards, Jamison, Rotham and Bazzo we want to complement them.
  • Somehow getting games and experience into the fringe players who are looking to establish themselves as the best of our bottom 6.

Maybe Simmos game plan bears fruit, and we have a good run with injury in 2025. If this is the case then Simpsons best 22 is capable of 2011 level things. In which case, then actually Simpson needs to be extended another 2 years at the end of next season, not let go. Which means we are holding onto him until Yeo and Mc Govern have played their last games in 2026 [finals year] and we're best to part ways in 2027 when we miss finals. Harley on this timeline has tasted some success as an Eagle and has already signed a mega deal and is captain. Simpson leaves the club a hero.

If we are not looking to do this, then honestly just let him go in the bye. 2025 is too important to stuff up, you either think he can tune the side up in the back half of the season and have them firing next year, or let Schofield take over and start the hunt for a new coach really early. Maybe Schofield is the next coach and giving him the back half of the year is a massive leg up compared to doing it over summer. Or maybe the next coach is someone working at another club who we want thinking about this job sooner rather than later. People poo poo sacking the coach mid season, but starting the process as the players are clearing out their lockers for the summer is far worse in my view.

Edit: Reminder, we finished 3rd in 2007. 2008,9 suck and wooden spoon in 2010. Top 4 2011.Were better in 2012 but finished 5th. Then 2 years out of finals as the list shed the last of the 2006 side, and into a GF in 2015 where inexperience cost us. As I remember it we then won the next 3 flags before a sad decline, mostly due to most of the best 22 just taking 3-4 years off injured. We still have half of that 2018 side playing in our best 22 today, and because of injuries fared far better in recent drafts than we otherwise would have. This side should expect a crazy rise up the ladder. Add Allen, Flynn and Hewitt to this side and it would have happened this year in my view.

For the 99% of you who will disagree with all of this, the right move is letting Simmo go this morning.
 
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