“Those that fail to study from historical past are doomed to repeat it.”
With apologies to Winston Churchill, the West Coast Eagles are little doubt hoping they’ve realized from historical past, and may repeat it in appointing Andrew McQualter as senior coach.
Whereas it will be a disservice to easily label McQualter as Adam Simpson 2.0, the similarities between the 38-year-old and his predecessor are there for all to see.
McQualter, like Simpson earlier than him, comes with a powerful footballing resume — albeit one constructed extra within the field than on the sphere.
He managed 94 video games for St Kilda and Gold Coast between 2005 and 2012, a far cry from Simpson’s 306-game, twin premiership profession with North Melbourne.
Each got here west after profitable stints as assistants.
Simpson with 4 years beneath Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn the place he helped orchestrate the primary of a hat-trick of flags.
McQualter with a full decade at Richmond as understudy to Damian Hardwick in the course of the Tigers’ golden run of premierships.
And at 38, merely one 12 months older than Simpson when he took the helm, he too turns into the youngest coach within the AFL.
However that’s the place the similarities finish, and the place the duty in entrance of McQualter begins.
Alternative beckons
Whereas Simpson would finally take a group brimming with expertise to glory, the Eagles at the moment are within the midst of the largest rebuild in membership historical past, having gained simply 10 video games up to now three seasons.
For McQualter, that merely means alternative.
“Everyone begins recent,” he advised reporters at his first media convention.
“There is no judgements from me on any of the gamers on our listing. Everyone will get a recent begin.”
However judgements might want to come. And shortly.
All eyes on AFL commerce interval
The AFL commerce interval begins on Friday, and the Eagles are set to be important gamers.
Defender Tom Barrass desires out, whereas veteran ahead Jack Darling is prone to transfer to North Melbourne.
On the opposite aspect of the coin, the seemingly addition of Tigers duo Liam Baker and Jack Graham will add much-needed expertise and depth to an inventory crying out for reinforcement because it appears to construct round second-year star Harley Reid.
The membership should make choices on extra fringe gamers after delisting Jamaine Jones, Zane Trew and Jordyn Baker a fortnight in the past.
All of those strikes should be made with a watch on the nationwide draft, the place the Eagles at present maintain picks 3, 23, and 59.
The sheer dimension of the West Coast rebuild is probably going one of many causes the seek for a coach stretched into a 3rd month, with many pundits suggesting the profitable candidate would by no means final lengthy sufficient to see the venture by means of.
However McQualter stated he by no means paid any consideration to those that described the job as a poisoned chalice.
“I assumed this was an unimaginable job. Therefore why I went by means of the method and I’m very lucky to be sitting right here at the moment,” he stated.
‘Recent’ expectations
West Coast chief government Don Pyke stated McQualter’s character was the right match for the membership because it seemed to climb again up the ladder.
“Essentially he is an excellent individual, nice values and an excellent footy coach. That is why we have employed him,” Pyke stated.
“Bringing somebody recent into the membership with recent vitality, recent eyes, a recent lens a brand new means of doing issues, you will be amazed what could be achieved.”
McQualter can also be assured change can come shortly, promising Eagles followers will see a brand new look in 2025.
“We’re simply going to get higher every single day,” he stated.
“Discover methods to enhance the best way we wish to play. Discover methods to enhance our habits, what we do every single day and demand that of one another, as a result of that is what it takes to be nice on this sport.
“We’re all within the enterprise of profitable. We love profitable video games of soccer, so we’ll be seeking to get higher as of at the moment.”
Loading