By Steve Larkin
Rock-bottom West Coast need a full clean-out of coaches and the senior core who are playing for cash rather than the club, Eagles great Scott Cummings says.
Cummings, who led the Eagles’ goalkicking in 1999, says sweeping change is needed as the club reels from a record 171-point loss to Sydney.
Eagles captain Luke Shuey and the players walk from the field after the massive loss.Credit: AFL Photos
Coach Adam Simpson has been backed by West Coast chairman Paul Fitzpatrick but Cummings says a clean-out is required.
“I generally loathe seeing a coach get removed halfway through a season or late in a season,” Cummings told SEN radio on Monday.
“Or supporters screaming out ‘we want heads’ and ‘heads must roll’, stability is probably the number one thing.
“But with the West Coast Eagles, stability is out the window.
“They need a full clean-out. They need new voices, they need new faces.
“And they need players that give a toss because there’s too many there right now, I’m only talking senior players, that just don’t care and it shows.”
Cummings labelled the Eagles’ effort as “putrid” in the loss to the Swans which extends the club-record losing streak to 12 games – four of the past eight defeats have been by more than 100 points.
“What I saw on the weekend was just putrid from senior players who have been there a long, long time who keep saying how much they love the club,” Cummings said.
“At the moment I am seeing players play for cash, not for their club, they’re playing for contracts.
Scott Cummings has had enough.Credit: Getty Images
“There’s a handful of players that if they decide to go on at the end of the year, they are playing for money.
“Because there is no way in the world you can watch what we saw on Saturday and say that they care or have any pride in their jumper at the moment.
“For that reason alone, to me, says there needs be change.”
Club chair Paul Fitzpatrick released a statement on Sunday night, saying the senior players needed to set a better example for the younger ones coming through.
“With a couple of exceptions many of the experienced players were well down yesterday,” he said.
“Obviously Adam Simpson and his coaching staff have been limited with what they can do with such a long injury list, but regardless we cannot tolerate performances of that nature and we expect a strong response against St Kilda next Sunday.”
While one fan suggested members should boycott the first quarter of the next match, Fitzpatrick called on fans to stick with the club.
“In closing, we do hear you and we urge you to stick with us through this. We need you more than ever. It will turn because everyone at the club is prepared to roll up their sleeves and get it done.”
AAP
