Coach Adam Simpson Megathread est. 2017 - Staying for 2024, Lyon’s Cryin’

[KBLT]

If Simpson would just admit that we are in a rebuild, I'd be happy to back him in. But we've had the same shit for years now.

"We've got to own it"
"Work rate is not there"
"We've moved on from that"
"Season slipping away"

 

[Rowan18]

Injuries and COVID have definitely f’ed us. I think people underestimate the impact of covid on peoples bodies in the weeks after symptoms subside. I have colleagues who have been out of iso for weeks after having it and are still struggling for breath after light exercise. The impact of that happening to most of the squad a few weeks ago partially explains our performances.

But some of the issues with the squad/gameplan have been apparent for 12+ months. Was hoping to see some obvious changes with the introduction of Schofield and Knights... something needs to change asap.

It's person by person though. I had COVID and was back at normal exercise levels in 5 days. I would assume younger, fit players are more likely to bounce back too.

 

[Rowan18]

1. Players should be motivated enough that they employ their own athletics coach during the “off season”.
2. Professional athletes don’t have an “off-season” - I get the feeling that most sit around doing nothing until the squad groups up and the ship had sailed for obtaining gains at that point. You’re just recovering loses.
3. Club should employ athletic based coaches - our clear weakness is repeated sprint/power efforts. Whatever program that has been in place of whatever periodisation us going on has been miles off the mark
4. with the running focus, tackling and wrestling needed to be grossly unskilled. I think it’s ability and the lack of repeat power efforts that kills this off. I.e. they may be able to tackle once but then they’re out of gas
5. Ultimately the strength and conditioning program has left an average team at the bottom of the potential barrel. It seems they have done the preseason of an amateur club. This has been consistent for a few years. Club should have recognized, not sure why half of bigfooty can but they can’t. This is where blame falls on Simpson. He needs to go to fitness guys and say we are too slow, lack endurance, or whatever it is, improve that in your next program

The good thing if our fitness is as bad as we suspect, is that it is an easy fix to get some quick improvement in the squad. One 6 month offseason should see us on track, provided we hire the right people to implement it.

 

[Rowan18]

I was keen to piss Simpson off as well, but now I'd rather keep him until the end of 2023, and pay out his 2024 final year. He's coaching so poorly that we're guaranteed of bottom 4 finishes. We need at least 2 maybe 3 years on the bottom to finally get some top young talent onto the list, and Simpson almost guarantees you that.

Nah, player development is important and a new coach usually takes at least a season to get their act together.

Look at Freo. Simmo is at Ross Lyon levels of dud and they pissed around with Lyon for 4 years of mediocrity before sacking him. Had he gone part way through 2017, they could potentially have been back contending for finals in 2019. We don't want to go down that path.

If we're 1-11 at the bye, then Simmo gets a chance to present his plan moving forward to the board. If it isn't credible, then he's gone. Pay the $1.4M on his contract and cop the $1.4M hit on soft cap tax. It will cost the club far less than a couple extra seasons of mediocrity.

Give Schofield an audition as senior coach for the rest of the year. It would be good to see what an outsider brings to try and turn things around. If we don't want to go the rookie coach, then through the sink at Clarko. The Eagles are a golden coaching ticket, well resourced and stable admin that don't eat their own. Anyone would rather coach here than at Gold Coast.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Dead last in the WAFL. Percentage of 56.

Dead last in the AFLW. Percentage of 43.

Second to dead last in the AFL. Percentage of 61.

Let that sink in. The rot isn't new, but spreading.

 

[ziad]

Unfortunately they packed it in 2+ years ago. That's when the board should have identified the problem and acted.

I don't agree with the apologists, but there is some truth in this Covid year. No continuity but more so many of our players have had an interrupted pre-season and will struggle to get to the fitness needed.

So here's the catch:

You pretty much have to have 2x top 5 draft picks who turn into A graders to win a flag
You can't get 2x top 5 draft picks without and extended stint in the bottom 4
And to have an extended stint in the bottom 4, you have to dish up exceptionally shitola football.

That's where we're at. The last thing I want is a rebuild that ends up in a "close, but no cigar".

So I'm happy to keep Adam "Credits trading scheme" Simpson on until the end of his contract.

The old saying; Hell is the truth seen too late!

 

[Scotland]

If simmo accepts we are rebuilding. I back him to lead the rebuild. So he stays for another 3-4 years.

We are not ready for the spark of a new coach yet. We need picks.

He said in yesterday's presser we are 'transitioning'. So that either means we are rebuilding or pivoting for a tilt at the AFLW next season.

 

[Scotland]

In before a peanut says give the new game plan time to work

We belong in the same 'what is their brand?' conversation with North.

We were (4 years ago) a precise kicking, possession footy side. We we were #1 in marks and #1 in contested marks. You knew what you were getting from a WC game. Careful with the ball out of defence, not afraid to kick long to a contest and efficient at converting inside 50s to goals. And whatever you do don't kick high inside 50.

So far this year (stats after 5 games) we are 11th in marks and 17th in contested marks. We're 16th in clearances, 18th in contested possessions, 13th in tackles, 18th in bounces and 17th in uncontested possessions. We're also 18th for inside 50s and 2nd for most inside 50s conceded.

Some of it is personnel related but the basic stats say we are poor across the board, which we have been. Playing against WC just 'looks' easy. We don't move the ball quickly and don't seem to be able to slow down opposition ball movement. Just relying on McGovern, Barrass, Hurn etc. to mark opposition kicks isn't a game plan.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

We belong in the same 'what is their brand?' conversation with North.

We were (4 years ago) a precise kicking, possession footy side. We we were #1 in marks and #1 in contested marks. You knew what you were getting from a WC game. Careful with the ball out of defence, not afraid to kick long to a contest and efficient at converting inside 50s to goals. And whatever you do don't kick high inside 50.

So far this year (stats after 5 games) we are 11th in marks and 17th in contested marks. We're 16th in clearances, 18th in contested possessions, 13th in tackles, 18th in bounces and 17th in uncontested possessions. We're also 18th for inside 50s and 2nd for most inside 50s conceded.

Some of it is personnel related but the basic stats say we are poor across the board, which we have been. Playing against WC just 'looks' easy. We don't move the ball quickly and don't seem to be able to slow down opposition ball movement. Just relying on McGovern, Barrass, Hurn etc. to mark opposition kicks isn't a game plan.

The only remotely positive stat the commentators had yesterday was #1 in percentage of scores from centre bounces, which is to say if we do not take it straight out of the ruck then we are witches hats and incapable of moving the ball in open play.

Spot on post above, we need to define our brand in a big way.

 

[dinnaz]

The only remotely positive stat the commentators had yesterday was #1 in percentage of scores from centre bounces, which is to say if we do not take it straight out of the ruck then we are witches hats and incapable of moving the ball in open play.

Spot on post above, we need to define our brand in a big way.

Whats gonna be the best style in 5 years? Im a big believer in you coach with what you have (Simmo) rather than players play to your ideals (Ross Lyon).
I think the current trend with getting it to fwds leading away from the ball carrier out the back results in a few walk in goals but overall more mistakes and shots from out wide (as players get leads down the wings & you dont want to get scored off the turnover) It should be a possible way to score not the only way to!
The 666 means you can get on a roll with a good centre clearance setup which we do Naitanui-> Shuey and Melbourne in the 2nd half of the grand final.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

The whole Perth Wildcats Scott Morrison debacle puts a spotlight on someone in Simmo's position.
Before the last 2 games deciding the fate of the Wildcats' 35 year playoffs streak, Scott Morrison claimed didn't believe his job is under threat but doesn't care either way since the Wildcats have to pay him out for next season.
So if he somehow survives he's probably happy to cruise to the end of his contract next season without worrying about meeting expectations.

Simmo is contracted until the end of 2024, so it all depends on if he's willing to also cruise to end of 2024, or if he cares enough about his reputation and the club's success to try to improve his game plan/coaching style and try to help the Eagles become a better team during each season he's here.

Only Simmo would know the answer to that, and if the club cares about improving the team's immediate on field success enough (even if it takes several seasons to implement) to re-evaluate Simmo's position despite needing to pay him out for 2 more years. For all we know, they are happy for the team to tread water for the next few seasons, pick up some good picks and look to rebuild after that. Then they would re-evaluate Simmo as head coach when his contract expires.

Personally I think it's pretty clear he'll be here until 2024, but the hope is that we can see significant improvements in the game style by that time.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

Simmo is contracted until the end of 2024, so it all depends on if he's willing to also cruise to end of 2024, or if he cares enough about his reputation and the club's success to try to improve his game plan/coaching style and try to help the Eagles become a better team.

Seriously?

The guy is a 300 game player, with two premierships under his belt, and is coming up to 200 games as a senior AFL coach, with a win ratio of 60% and a premiership under his belt.

Guys like that don't "cruise".

He even looks in ripping shape (for a 46 year old, with a demanding, high-pressure job).

People can rag on his coaching. But the idea that he would cruise through two years... is just laughable.

 

[dinnaz]

The whole Perth Wildcats Scott Morrison debacle puts a spotlight on someone in Simmo's position.
Before the last 2 games deciding the fate of the Wildcats' 35 year playoffs streak, Scott Morrison claimed didn't believe his job is under threat but doesn't care either way since the Wildcats have to pay him out for next season.
So if he somehow survives he's probably happy to cruise to the end of his contract next season without worrying about meeting expectations.

Simmo is contracted until the end of 2024, so it all depends on if he's willing to also cruise to end of 2024, or if he cares enough about his reputation and the club's success to try to improve his game plan/coaching style and try to help the Eagles become a better team during each season he's here.

Only Simmo would know the answer to that, and if the club cares about immediate on field success enough to re-evaluate Simmo's position despite needing to pay him out for 2 more years. For all we know, they are happy for the club to tread water for the next few seasons, pick up some good picks and look to rebuild after that. Then they would re-evaluate Simmo as head coach when his contract expires.

The main question is, how can a club ensure that coaches or players will continue to put 100% effort into their job when they have a guaranteed contract past the current season and they'll have to be paid either way, if there are some who don't value on field success as much as others and care more about the money?

Simmo would never cruise, was a hard nut back when he played and you can see his emotions game day without going overboard.
Id say the only guys cruising for a paycheck would be those guys 33+ who go to another club realising they are no longer at their peak performance, and are there for a coaching position before retirement.
Footy clubs have a mix of characters, some guys have that desire to win flags and push every session, others not so much it's just the nature of the beast.
The guys on massive contracts do tend to drop a little because their best years were obviously leading up to that contract.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

Whats gonna be the best style in 5 years? Im a big believer in you coach with what you have (Simmo) rather than players play to your ideals (Ross Lyon).
I think the current trend with getting it to fwds leading away from the ball carrier out the back results in a few walk in goals but overall more mistakes and shots from out wide (as players get leads down the wings & you dont want to get scored off the turnover) It should be a possible way to score not the only way to!
The 666 means you can get on a roll with a good centre clearance setup which we do Naitanui-> Shuey and Melbourne in the 2nd half of the grand final.

Interested to see if there is a slow league wide transition to man on man. To be clear i don’t think it will, I think zonal defence is here to stay across the comp, as it allows clubs to hide deficiencies at individual levels a little better, and zonal defence combined with ball pressure makes it far easier to force turnovers than rely on winning several one vs ones. But if it were to come in, it would shift the landscape of footy in a lot quicker than anything else I can come up with.

Might be one of those things where a club has a great deal of success trying to play man on man and people try to emulate it. That’s the only way I can see it come back. Seems to be the nature of the beast in world sport, emulate what’s worked.

 

[dinnaz]

Interested to see if there is a slow league wide transition to man on man. To be clear i don’t think it will, I think zonal defence is here to stay across the comp, as it allows clubs to hide deficiencies at individual levels a little better, and zonal defence combined with ball pressure makes it far easier to force turnovers than rely on winning several one vs ones. But if it were to come in, it would shift the landscape of footy in a lot quicker than anything else I can come up with.

Might be one of those things where a club has a great deal of success trying to play man on man and people try to emulate it. That’s the only way I can see it come back. Seems to be the nature of the beast in world sport, emulate what’s worked.

The only opportunity for man on man is directly after a centre clearance. After than, in general play its always going to be a flood or zone style system.

 

[flamingEMBERS]

The whole Perth Wildcats Scott Morrison debacle puts a spotlight on someone in Simmo's position.
Before the last 2 games deciding the fate of the Wildcats' 35 year playoffs streak, Scott Morrison claimed didn't believe his job is under threat but doesn't care either way since the Wildcats have to pay him out for next season.
So if he somehow survives he's probably happy to cruise to the end of his contract next season without worrying about meeting expectations.

Simmo is contracted until the end of 2024, so it all depends on if he's willing to also cruise to end of 2024, or if he cares enough about his reputation and the club's success to try to improve his game plan/coaching style and try to help the Eagles become a better team during each season he's here.

Only Simmo would know the answer to that, and if the club cares about improving the team's immediate on field success enough (even if it takes several seasons to implement) to re-evaluate Simmo's position despite needing to pay him out for 2 more years. For all we know, they are happy for the team to tread water for the next few seasons, pick up some good picks and look to rebuild after that. Then they would re-evaluate Simmo as head coach when his contract expires.

Personally I think it's pretty clear he'll be here until 2024, but the hope is that we can see significant improvements in the game style by that time.

Yeah that was bizarre. Surely he’s gone or was gone before that comment

 

[Scotland]

The issue with our zone defence is that the players don't actually defend. They just occupy a piece of turf. It's very easy (from the couch) to move the ball against us. If we kick a behind I'm resigned to the fact that the chain of possession will most likely end up in an inside 50. When we get a kick in we seem to either go long to a contest near the boundary, or chip to one pocket, back to the goal square, to the other pocket etc. until we turn it over.

So what are we doing that is so different?

 

[dinnaz]

The issue with our zone defence is that the players don't actually defend. They just occupy a piece of turf. It's very easy (from the couch) to move the ball against us. If we kick a behind I'm resigned to the fact that the chain of possession will most likely end up in an inside 50. When we get a kick in we seem to either go long to a contest near the boundary, or chip to one pocket, back to the goal square, to the other pocket etc. until we turn it over.

So what are we doing that is so different?

But that ball usually comes in as a long high ball which we can usually kill. I'd rather see proper tackling pressure resulting in turnovers and cop the occasional ball that comes in hot. Sadly we don't have the players to implement that.
SFA but if we kicked to the left pocket that would be something different

 

[Scotland]

But that ball usually comes in as a long high ball which we can usually kill. I'd rather see proper tackling pressure resulting in turnovers and cop the occasional ball that comes in hot. Sadly we don't have the players to implement that.
SFA but if we kicked to the left pocket that would be something different

We're #1 in the comp for marks conceded inside 50. Our zone doesn't force teams to kick the ball in high, and smart teams move the ball quickly and look to isolate Barrass or McGovern away from where the ball is going.

 

[dinnaz]

We're #1 in the comp for marks conceded inside 50. Our zone doesn't force teams to kick the ball in high, and smart teams move the ball quickly and look to isolate Barrass or McGovern away from where the ball is going.

It's coming in that often and that hot i'm not surprised. When we have tried to change things up we get opened up like a can of tuna. Teams just play on and deliver easy hit up kicks to their forwards all day and we would lose by 200 points playing that way.

 

[Scotland]

It's coming in that often and that hot i'm not surprised. When we have tried to change things up we get opened up like a can of tuna. Teams just play on and deliver easy hit up kicks to their forwards all day and we would lose by 200 points playing that way.

That still comes back to the defensive setup. We're not conceding 100 points a game just from centre bounces. We're conceding 100 points a game because we're losing centre clearances and getting outworked around the ground and turning the ball over and...

 

[Priddis Is Done]

We're #1 in the comp for marks conceded inside 50. Our zone doesn't force teams to kick the ball in high, and smart teams move the ball quickly and look to isolate Barrass or McGovern away from where the ball is going.

Zone doesn't work because the midfield credits in the bank are over the hill and don't give a rats in 2 way running.

If the game is not on the nidfielders terms they give up quicker than a w**** drops her clothes.

 

[dinnaz]

That still comes back to the defensive setup. We're not conceding 100 points a game just from centre bounces. We're conceding 100 points a game because we're losing centre clearances and getting outworked around the ground and turning the ball over and...

I'm a believer that you can't stop everything so when playing ultra defensive low scoring styles (like Ross Lyon) you can get goals kicked quickly out of the blue. Or if the whole team isn't switched on - same again. Our biggest problem is getting it out of our D50 and inability to score. We play so defensively by bombing it long and hope to win 3-4 stoppages in a row to get down the other end.

Zone doesn't work because the midfield credits in the bank are over the hill and don't give a rats in 2 way running.

If the game is not on the midfielders terms they give up quicker than a w**** drops her clothes.

I think thats why the midfield being underdone hurts us. Everyone we bring in should be coached and trained to at least run to defensive positions. But it seems like we don't have the endurance to run defensively and then still have the energy to compete at the contest and vice versa.

 

[Scotland]

I don't buy underdone as an excuse for conceding an 8.8 to 0.0 start in a quarter and a half of footy in Rd 5.

Rd 1 being overrun sure.

 

[dinnaz]

I don't buy underdone as an excuse for conceding an 8.8 to 0.0 start in a quarter and a half of footy in Rd 5.

Rd 1 being overrun sure.

That's just because we are terrible Inability to stop momentum has killed us for 4 years. At some point in most games since 2019 we yield 4 goals in a row at some stage.
Away games are our bogey but you would think any timezone differences or travel fatigue would occur late in quarters or games.