West Coast coach Adam Simpson says it is not uncommon to have disgruntled players at clubs in response to The West Australian’s bombshell report some players do not want him to lead them beyond this season.
But the 2018 premiership leader is adamant he still has the backing of the playing group as pressure mounts on his position.
The West revealed that several players wanted a change from Simpson at the end of this season as the club continues to trek an arduous rebuild through the toughest period in their history.
Club insiders revealed there were multiple players wanting change heading into next year and The West also obtained text messages by three current members of the squad sent to people formerly associated with the club saying they no longer backed Simpson as coach.
It has put Simpson, who is under contract until the end of next season, under significant pressure, with their 61-point loss to Hawthorn the latest in a series of disastrous defeats for the proud club.
The Eagles have won only eight of their past 64 games, including 27 losses by 50 points or more.
He received the unanimous backing of the board in August of last year when his job was under significant pressure, with an enormous payout for the coach and the luxury tax the club would have to pay estimated to equate to $6m.
Simpson didn’t deny that there was player unrest and even said he’d experienced it before as both player and a coach.
“I think it happens all the time. It happened when I was under Dennis (Pagan), it happened when I was working with Clarko (Alastair Clarkson) and it happens all the time,” Simpson said.
“I take it for what it is and move on. I won’t be checking everyone’s phones, put it that way.”
Simpson said he was confident he still had the backing of the players as they prepare to head to Melbourne to tackle the Demons at the MCG on Sunday.
“Yeah I am, despite whatever’s in the paper today. We’ve got 15 to 20 players who don’t get a game every week, we’ve got probably 10 players who will be off the list at the end of the year,” he said.
“There’s always people that are disgruntled, it’s just part of the job.
“We can’t apologise for trying to get better but I think I’ve still got the players.”
Asked how he knew he still had the players, Simpson said: “Well I’m with them everyday and obviously it’s a tough week this week.
“Last week we all had a bit of optimism after the Bombers game. I just don’t ride the rollercoaster like the media, we’ve got a job to do. It’s a difficult job at the moment and nothing’s changed from the start of the year about what we want to get better at.
“It felt like we took a step backwards from what’s been a reasonably positive season, so we need to respond this week.”
Simpson said he will address the players at the airport about the article to “take the sting out of it”.
“I’m not on a witch hunt,” he said.
“I don’t think this is a unique situation, but the fact it gets out like that, I can’t control that.
“I think you’re overplaying it a little bit. Just because you’ve seen three players have sent text messages to each other, it’s our lives we deal with it everyday.
“I will talk to the players today, we’ll try to unite and be better on the weekend.”
Simpson said he would not walk away from the Eagles before his contract ends but would accept a decision from the club if it was made to part ways with him.
“I just do the best I can and what will be, will be,” he said.
“All I can control is what I do and if the club make a decision that’s fine but if they back me in that’s great. I’ll do the best I can and we’ll talk to them whenever they want to talk to me.
“I am committed to the build. We’re starting, so we’re at the beginning. I know the two previous years were difficult to get anything from that, the detraction from COVID and injuries and availability but we’re legitimately starting that build now.
“It’s going to take time. So whoever is coaching at West Coast – it’s a longer term direction we’re going in and we want to get better as quick as we possibly can but it’s just not going to happen in 16 weeks.”
Simpson said despite the turmoil of recent seasons he still had the energy to coach the Eagles going forward.
“I love my job. I don’t think everyone wants my job at the moment,” Simpson said.
“It’s a tremendous environment, I love the club, I love the players and you know, I love coaching so there’s no issues there.
“It’s just going to take time.”
Simpson said paid no attention the speculation around him to protect himself from it all.
“I don’t read the paper, my family is pretty balanced. They take the p… out of me a lot,” he said.
“We’re quite balanced, we’re pragmatic. It’s footy, we’re not saving lives but we do bring a lot of joy to people and that’s really important as well.
“I’m OK, I’m pretty balanced.”
Simpson is also working with a new leadership group led by first-year co-captains Oscar Allen and Liam Duggan.
“What they should be learning is you take the good with the bad,” he said.
“The credits or the enthusiasm around the place when we had those wins earlier in the year, we’re really good performances but with the disappointing game you just can’t ride the wave as hard as you guys want to ride it.
“How do we respond? How do we be consistent every week? That’s probably who I am and that’s probably what we need our players to be and our leaders to be.
“That’s our challenge to get back and be consistent with our effort and performance.”