AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson believes West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson’s future could be sealed with a heavy loss to North Melbourne this week.
The Eagles will host the Kangaroos on Sunday afternoon, with the latter aiming to break a run of 16 consecutive losses, while West Coast sits a game and significant percentage below them in last spot on the ladder.
West Coast board members were in Melbourne last week for a scheduled strategy and planning meeting, as pressure reaches fever pitch over Simpson’s future at the club, despite the premiership coach being contracted until the end of 2025.
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While the Eagles have remained steadfast Simpson is their man heading into next season, Robinson said the narrative could change with a convincing defeat at the hands of the Roos.
“You would think if they are going to move on Simpson, this result could hinge on that. You can have your losses … you don’t want to get blown out this week,” he said.
“There’s going to come a stage where it can’t be about the money. It seems to me in the last period of time the Adam Simpson, West Coast Eagles relationship has become about money.
“Is the business model to save money or is it the business model to run a football club? I’ve always thought it was that – and I might be really naive – but it seems to have now become a money situation and I don’t think that’s ideal for anyone involved.”
Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph told Fox Footy’s On the Couch sacking Simpson now would effectively cost the club $6 million given the AFL’s escalating footy department salary cap.
AFL 360 co-host Gerard Whateley said Simpson’s future was just one of several tough calls to be made over key figures at the club.
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“I know these things begin with the coach, it certainly doesn’t end with the coach,” he said.
“The strategic decisions that’ve been made around list management and recruiting, the fitness and the medical program that are in place, an administration that has been there for so long.
“This is one of those moments – yes, maybe the coach does go, but the reframing of the club has too be so much broader than that.”
Whateley added the side’s fall had been “damning”, particularly given its enormous wealth, with the side “hopeless” in its football output this year.
Robinson said the club was a “rabble”, with Simpson and CEO Trevor Nisbett needing to part ways.
“Right now this is a lower than stagnant football club. It’s an uninspired football club,” he said.
“They’ve got injuries, we know that, but there’s got to come a point where you’ve got to stand up to those injuries and be better. You just have to be better. They look a very uninspired lot.”
