Former West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson has publicly acknowledged that the club's troubled 2022 off-season marked the beginning of the end for his tenure, agreeing with critical assessments of training standards during that period.
Simpson Concedes Training Issues Were Pivotal
In a revealing interview on SEN radio, Simpson responded to comments made by his former assistant Jarrad Schofield, who recently stated the Eagles did not train with sufficient intensity during the 2022 pre-season. Simpson described Schofield's perspective as "fair enough" while explaining the extraordinary circumstances that hampered the club's preparations.
"I think the undercurrent of that, not defending anyone — we were broken," Simpson admitted. "A lot of the players had career-defining injuries they were returning from, we were coming out of COVID."
Perfect Storm of Challenges Derailed Preparations
The 2022 off-season presented multiple obstacles for West Coast, creating what Simpson called "the start of the end" for his coaching reign. A combination of factors converged to disrupt normal training routines and team development.
"That was the year we had 10 to 15 top-ups, trying to get some match sim in. You just couldn't do it, unfortunately," Simpson explained, referring to the need for replacement players due to widespread illness and injury. "That was the start of the end, when you can't get what you want to get into the players. Not by design, but by choice."
Schofield's Perspective on Training Differences
Jarrad Schofield, who joined West Coast from Port Adelaide ahead of the 2022 season, provided context for his observations in an exclusive interview with The West Sport Show. He noted significant contrasts between the training environments at his previous and new clubs.
"I came from an environment where, two weeks in, you're into small-sided handball games, mini-sided match play. We were right into it, because the guys were literally told 'you better come back in a certain condition, because we're right into it'," Schofield recalled.
He suggested that West Coast's approach may have been influenced by accumulated physical and mental fatigue from previous campaigns, including a grand final appearance. "I just felt like maybe on the previous years of being banged up, getting to a grand final, over a combination of years, it just wears on you. I think maybe they were in a bit of protection mode," Schofield observed.
Injury Management's Critical Role in Season Success
Simpson emphasized how player fitness during the summer months fundamentally shapes a team's competitive prospects throughout the regular season. His insights highlight the delicate balance coaches must maintain between pushing athletes and protecting their long-term health.
"It's more who's fit, who's coming back from injury, what's your (number of) off-season surgeries is a big one — if you've got more than five or six surgeries, you're in a bit of strife," Simpson noted. "That'll affect what happens now, in terms of the health of your list, because some players will come back mid-January and they're four to six weeks away from going full tilt, which just disrupts your planning."
Legacy of a Difficult Period
The 2022 season proved disastrous for West Coast, with the team managing only two victories amid ongoing challenges. Simpson, who has since returned to football in a part-time coaching role with Carlton, reflects on this period as a turning point that ultimately led to his departure from the Eagles.
The convergence of injury rehabilitation requirements, COVID-19 disruptions, and the psychological impact of previous demanding seasons created what Simpson describes as an unsustainable situation for implementing his coaching vision. These revelations provide important context for understanding one of the most challenging periods in recent West Coast Eagles history.
