The AFL world has reacted to Adam Simpson’s sacking by West Coast Eagles after his 11-year tenure at the club officially came to an end.
On Tuesday afternoon, West Coast released a two-sentence statement confirming the club had “mutually agreed” to part ways with Simpson.
“The Board met this morning and said, ‘Thank you very much for your service, you can be on your way now,’” AFL reporter Eddie Summerfield told 3AW Afternoons on Tuesday.
“His time was up.”
The length of the statement came under fire given Simpson’s achievements with the club.
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Simpson took charge of the Eagles ahead of the 2014 season, leading the Perth-based club towards the finals on six occasions and winning a premiership in 2018.
However, West Coast has won just eight games since the start of the 2022 season, suffering sixth consecutive defeats before Tuesday’s announcement.
Simpson has coached the Eagles in 242 AFL games, with only Michael Malthouse (243) and John Worsfold (281) bettering that tally.
West Coast Eagles Chair Paul Fitzpatrick, chief executive Don Pyke and Simpson will address media at Perth’s Mineral Resources Park on Tuesday at 12.30pm local time (2.30pm AEST).
Speaking to 6PR Mornings on Tuesday, West Coast legend Glen Jakovich took aim at the club’s Board, calling for them to resign.
“It’s the circuit breaker that everyone required,” Jakovich said.
“It was in the best interest the club, the club comes first.
“The club currently is in its worst predicament in its 38-year history, even worse than the (Ben) Cousins scenario.
“The club is in desperate need of change, desperate need of a new voice and desperate need of a new era.
“The development of some of the players is just way too far behind some of the other teams in the competition, it’s quite evident.
“They’re a substandard club at the minute.
“(The West Coast Board) should be standing in front of that press conference and handing in their ties and club badges. They made this mess, they endorsed it. We all saw it last year. They need to stand down effective immediately.
“They all have to go … it’s an embarrassment.
“They need to take accountability.”