Simpson post-match v Fremantle 02.04.23

West Coast Eagles senior coach Adam Simpson post match press conference after clash against Fremantle.

[@joshcopeland6100]

I love Simmo, answered a lot of long term questions that I think a lot of us have asked, very level headed and can recognise when the game plan needs changing. Well done to the whole coaching staff 👏

[@BDub2024]

I've been impressed for the last 2 matches how much they've committed the body. Some special mentions. Very impressed with Cole down back. Petrovski Seton's improvement has been amazing. Long really knows how to play. Kelly outstanding. Williams battled manfully. Hurn an absolute star. Ginbey mature beyond years. I thought Hewitt played reasonable. But that shot at goal his missed on the run was a classic beginners error. He straightened up before kicking, but the ball was always going to go to the left. He should have aimed at the right post and it would have gone straight through the middle. Chesser ran out the day which was good. But he seemed to be out of position at times. Neither manning up or offering an option. That will come with experience. To be fair Wirrpunda as a youngster was like that and he found his mojo down back. A bit like Shepherd and J Jones.

[@BDub2024]

Gaff was good on the ball too. I think he was in the middle wasn't he. Hard to tell a bit from where I was standing.

[@criddlegakes2650]

Gaff was on ball 90% of the time

[@BDub2024]

@@criddlegakes2650 That may actually prolong his career in a selection sense. But playing that in and under role he'll be worked over physically more. It allows the youngsters to be on the wing. With all the injuries, I would expect H Edwards, Culley (if fit), Clark, West... they may need a nippy half forward type too. You could get 7 players out this week injured.

[@archninjaa7507]

The turning point to me was the obvious high shot on Ryan and buckling him like a pretzel in front of goal. No free. When the ump gave Freo a free on a more blatant high shot earlier.

[@darthjarjar4305]

Masten was a water runner, surprised he didn’t lace the boots and throw on a guernsey.

[@Alastair.S]

Really proud of the effort from the boys, something that was lacking last season. Without the injuries I reckon we win that game.

[@BDub2024]

I thought to get within 4 goals is a really good effort. Dockers were desperate for any victory. We're still putting games into kids. Simmo could have easily dropped 3 and brought in harder bodies, but chose not to. I wonder If Clark could assist as second ruck?

[@jcsportfever6339]

Nice joke

[@archninjaa7507]

I'm in the half full crew too my bro. Let's keep laying that foundation and give a few teams a scare this year.

[@RachelShortyRRees]

Freo supporter. It was really good to watch you guys play yesterday. You never gave up and just kept coming! That 3rd quarter was ultra competitive and had us scrambling. So heartbreaking to watch each of the Eagles players going down. I can't even imagine the heartbreak for the Eagles supporters and the players themselves. I hope they all make a quick (and full) recovery soon.

[@darthjarjar4305]

41 points wasn’t a true reflection of how we played. A really fast, competitive first quarter shootout. We faded in the 2nd Q, losing Gov and Shuey certainly didn’t help. Brought it back in the third, and when Freo went on that tear, I think the players new it was already over, so didn’t play as hard and tried to avoid getting injured. The umpires didn’t help lots of decisions not payed that should’ve been for both sides, stupid frees given away for both sides as well. Looks like we’ll get Culley, Yeo, Clark, Hough, West back next week, which is good for the young kids too get a look, but that injury crisis is not good. Don’t know what our plan is after Nic, Bailey tried but got absolutely destroyed, Jake the Snake ain’t a ruck. Long looked clean again, SPS Improved, Sheed and Gaff need too lift. Kelly was good, but don’t think we fully felt his 33 Disposals. Hewitt looked alright too. Oscar and Darling had bags up fwd which is good, we’ll need them to be on fire next week. JJ wasn’t as good, hopefully he can lift next week. It was heartbreaking seeing the players go down live at the game though, especially with the Freo fans really rubbing it in, but I loved the quick ball movement, and the heart and spirit we had, even with no one on the bench. If we play like that next week, and get though without as many injuries, we won’t beat the Demons, but will definitely be very competitive, and after last year, I’ll take that

[@chriskelly9476]

Upsetting to be there and watching one after another go down with injury. Very unlucky 😔

[@BigCgull]

More like senor player dropping lip and have no heart.

[@jeffbrown2034]

I was always really disappointed on the outlook from the inner club to the greater AFL, West Coast fans and the media that came directly from Simmo and the club over the whole covid period, in being quite negative about relocation in 2020/2021, but the positive attitude Simmo showed in this response regarding the injuries is fantastic and encouraging for a West Coast fan. Injuries happen and to embrace 6-7 injuries is great (albeit a tad naïve) but hopefully the preseason work from alot of our 2nd tier players will help demonstrate our depth over the next few weeks.

[@BigUps147]

Impressive without a rotation

[@BDub2024]

I thought petrovski seton has made massive improvement. Lucky to survive the cull last year. Give credit where its due. Well done. How good will Long be. He's a natural half forward, but will he ever step into the midfield I wonder.

[@wrangazz]

@@BDub2024 got definite lecca feels from long...... Absolute beast of a pick up in the draft

[@BDub2024]

@@wrangazz Long is very good at reading the play and is quick. He'll be persevered in midfield for next couple of years. But it would be also exciting on what he can offer in the middle as he reads play so well. I was watching Chesser. He is running well but isn't getting quite in the right place. He's running up and down, but its like the ball isn' going to him and both sides are kicking over him. He'll get there. Perhaps he needs to spend some time as a run with player. Hewitt will keep developing too. I think Burgoine is injured currently. Looking forward to Hough and Bazzo coming back.

[@seanchristie7150]

Fantastic effort n never say die attitude. Seems our 2nd quarters are either boom or bust

[@worker-wf2em]

0 seconds ago Gov and Shuey down, an opportunity to continue getting games into the next generation. Gibney, Chesser, Hewitt, Long all looking good.

[@ilikegamesandtech6712]

They aren't really replacements for Shuey and Gov though, as they were all in todays team Throw in Ryan and Cripps

[@Kempy772]

Just can’t believe we lost by 41 pts we looked slow in the Q4

[@wrangazz]

mate, we got over run cos we had no one on the bench... we looked slow in the 4th cos the boys were exhausted.. not only did they have no rotations they lost 3 of their best players across 3 different lines... how would have freo been if they lost brayshaw, young and walters....

[@emperorzorg2786]

No injuries and thats 2-1 on the season. Really unfortunate that something like this happened, you almost never see a third of a team being injured in a single game

[@TheRealRZV]

if you think you would of won that without the injureis you are delosional af....

[@wrangazz]

honestly just incredible from the eagles. i was msging a mate who is a freo supporter and he said freo will roll them in the last jst because of the injuries but said eagles could have pinched it... so proud of the boys. score does not represent the effort. ginby is a tank and long will just keep getting better. sorry for freo fans but your game plan doesnt look like it can compete, JL needs to adapt or you are not playing finals

[@jamesbennett3520]

Dockers last year top 5 team plays first 4 games against bottom 8 teams.. Great fixtures for a top 5 team

[@wrangazz]

@@jamesbennett3520 and they have won 1 game unconvincingly against a bottom team with 5 injured players... Dockers are young and a good side but this gam style won't work

[@TheRealRZV]

Pretty funny how budgie fans can talk the most shit in the AFL and as soon as they loose they run back to their sheds to shoot up on as many drugs as possible.

[@jpw5029]

What u on about?

[@TheRealRZV]

@@jpw5029 eagles fanbase is full of drug addicts, prove me wrong

[@BigCgull]

I'm an Eagles fan and it's hard to watch weak performances like this. Firstly, Simmo making excuses every week for poor performance and preparation. So far this season the Eagles have barely managed to put 2 good quarters of football together out of the 12 played. How is this acceptable? Secondly, let's be honest, it's pretty clear Ryan doesn't want to be at the club anymore, he doesn't want to put in the hard work and is looking distracted, if you disagree you clearing aren't looking at the body language. Thirdly, Darling is a Dud! 4 goals is a pass for a power forward, that's 1 scoring shot every quarter, nothing less is good enough. Trade him, he needed to go last season. In summary, West Coast needs a new Coach, and senior players who are committed or used as trade bait. No one is bigger than the club and the last 2 and a half years has been disgraceful, senior players barely turning up just for an easy pay cheque.

[@ilikegamesandtech6712]

Terrible take, just go support some other team. This IS the West Coast Eagles and they aren't changing because of some anonymous KZbin comment, nor would real fans want them to. People love to say: Oh I have been an eagles supporter for 30yrs blah blah, then go on to say, I hate the players that won the WCE a flag, hate the coach, hate the CEO. Bro, the players and coach are the club. Go start fresh at Carlton. Enjoy that ride.

[@BigCgull]

😂 righto, a true fan wouldn't think current performance is acceptable. Go edit your comments somewhere else part timer. You probably put a Freo jersey on after the weekend.

[@joogie1849]

You got smashed.