Revealed: The surprising reason why West Coast would be insane to fire coach Adam Simpson despite the Eagles suffering through the worst season in club history.
The West Coast Eagles have a very compelling reason not to fire Adam Simpson, despite the team having its worst season ever under the embattled head coach.
Many disgruntled fans have called for Simpson’s dismissal, however it has now been discovered that the team would face a massive payout if it did so, as the AFL luxury tax is levied at a whopping 200 percent on anything $500,000 beyond the soft cap.
That means if the Eagles fired Simpson, it would cost them a stunning $7 million – and that doesn’t include what West Coast would have to pay for his replacement, according to Channel 7.
Simpson’s team is a near lock for the wooden spoon, having won only once this season.
The loss to the Swans by 171 points at the SCG last weekend was the final straw for some fans, but Simpson should not be blamed, according to skipper Luke Shuey.
What can he accomplish from the coaching box? … Adam isn’t the one allowing 200-plus points on the field.
Simpson’s contract runs until the end of 2025, and the club is publicly encouraging him to continue coaching beyond the current issue.
The 47-year-old, who became a revered figure among Eagles fans after winning the Premiership in 2018, says he understands cries for change.
Nobody likes what happened over the weekend, and no one is hurting more than me. ‘So I understand your irritation,’ Simpson explained.
‘I just realize how vast the road and work are.’It is not an easy one. It is not for everyone. So you need to be prepared for some scrapes and bruises along the way.
‘I’m not in the pit of despair. I realized we were on a tremendous journey.
We didn’t want a game like that (against Sydney) or the one we had against Adelaide (a 122-point loss), but we got it.
So it is about how resilient you are and what you can do to get out of it. It is not a quick fix.
Simpson stated that it is critical that he restores the trust of the beleaguered playing group.
‘We need to get them fit and available so that they can perform to their full potential. That is my priority,’ he stated.
The Eagles have the opportunity to reclaim some credibility on Sunday, July 2, when they visit St Kilda at Optus Stadium.
