By Justin Chadwick
West Coast have emphatically shot down reports coach Adam Simpson has been asked to take an extended break at the end of the AFL season.
Simpson is contracted until 2025, but there are growing calls for him to step aside due to the team’s ongoing struggles.
Adam Simpson is under pressure.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
The Eagles sit last on the ladder with a 1-9 record and a torrid percentage of 55.4.
It follows on from last year’s 2-20 campaign.
Reports emerged on Wednesday night that West Coast had recommended to Simpson he take a three-month break at the end of the current campaign.
West Coast took to Twitter to dismiss those reports.
“Reports that senior coach Adam Simpson has been asked to take a three-month break at the end of the season are inaccurate,” the club tweeted.
“No such discussion has taken place.”
The rumours swirling around Simpson come on the back of a tumultuous period for two of the game’s most high-profile coaches.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick shocked the footballing world this week when he quit, effective immediately.
That came less than a week after North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson stepped down due to the emotional toll of being in the spotlight for the investigation into historical alleged racism at Hawthorn.
West Coast are currently mired in the darkest period of the club’s proud history.
Simpson is determined to lead the club through the rebuild, but club great Glen Jakovich says the 10th-year coach should have stepped down after Sunday’s 116-point loss to fellow strugglers Hawthorn.
West Coast’s injury curse has been their biggest downfall this season.
During last week’s loss to Hawthorn, West Coast were missing 10 of their best 15 players.
Although Elliot Yeo (groin), Tom Barrass (illness) and Shannon Hurn (groin) are a chance of returning for Saturday’s clash with Essendon, Luke Shuey, Nic Naitanui, Jeremy McGovern, Liam Ryan, Jamie Cripps, Jack Darling and Tom Cole remain sidelined.
Simpson, speaking on the club’s website this week, says he now mostly avoids digesting what is said about West Coast in the media.
“I used to (take it in) when we were winning,” he said.
“About two years, I realised how unhealthy it is. I disconnected from it, to the point where I really don’t read or watch anything.
“It’s probably made me more balanced as a person, more present at home, and really care about the people that matter.“
AAP
