Official Club Stuff 2024/25 Press Conferences/Media Interviews

[Keys]

McQualter’s first press conference since his initial appointments on day one of preseason

• Hard hitting question to start about him not wearing a hat for training. Turns out he has a small head and hasn’t found one that fits yet
• Main emphasis if preseason will be working on speed to create turnovers
• Happy with the condition the players returned in and pleased that several senior players came back earlier than required- 8-10 players including the co-captains
• Ginbey won the time trial but all players performed well
• Will settle Ginbey down back
• No major positional moves being considered but there will be some role adjustments
• Burgiel trained as part of leaving a spot open for a SSP signing along with others who will train on at a later
• Baker and Graham good players who train well and will help get the message across with respect to new game plan. Baker expected to play in the backline initially with his ability to win ground ball in the back half
• Hewett was “pretty excited” to be back training. Did the full session and is back ready to go
• Barrass hard to replace but gives Edwards and Bazzo an opportunity

 

[Keys]

McQualter on 6PR tonight

 

[Keys]

Reuben Ginbey on SEN this morning

Main takeaways was his move to defence as a 3rd tall and Hewett looking ready to go for a big preseason

 

[Astro7]

Reuben Ginbey on SEN this morning

Main takeaways was his move to defence as a 3rd tall and Hewett looking ready to go for a big preseason

Also mentioned on Backchat, Ginbey called Hewett a beast, said he'd be scared to play on him; that coming from the man-mountain! (who has relinquished his title 'The Boy' now at 20)

 

[Keys]

West Coast CEO Don Pyke - Wide World of Sports 6PR

West Coast CEO Don Pyke joined WWOS to break down his and the club's reaction to the 2025 AFL season fixtures.

omny.fm

Don Pyke on 6PR mostly discussing our fixture but also with a couple of upcoming draft snippets

 

[Keys]

New Eagles coach on working with Harley, what to expect in 2025

West Coast's Andrew McQualter joins Cal and Riley on Gettable Draft Countdown

www.afl.com.au

Andrew McQualter

Andrew Mcqualter

Age

39

Ht

179cm

Wt

74kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

5.6

2star

HB

7.2

4star

M

3.4

3star

T

3.6

5star

G

0.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.6

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

6.0

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

0.2

3star

on Gettable ahead of tomorrow’s draft

Some draft chat but also discussion on how he’s settling in, our new game style, new recruits and early training news

 

[Keys]

Our newest Eagle on 6PR straight after getting drafted

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

 

[Keys]

First press conferences for our three WA based draftees

 

[Keys]

And the first press conferences for our interstate recruits

 

[Keys]

Jobe Shanahan an Eagle - Wide World of Sports 6PR

Jobe Shanahan has joined the nest being taken with West Coast's 2nd selection in the draft. The young tall joined the program this evening.

omny.fm

Jobe Shanahan on 6PR after being drafted

 

[Keys]

Wide World of Sports with Mark Foreman - Full Show - Friday 22nd November - Wide World of Sports 6PR

West Coast Recruiting Manager Duane Massey 6PR cricket expert Tom Moody Motocross Rider Kayden Minnear Fremantle List Manager David Walls UWA athletics President Lou Soia

omny.fm

This is a link to the full show but Duane Massey comes on around 10.50 to discuss our draft

 

[Keys]

Matt Flynn on 6PR talking preseason training, Oscar’s knee, McQualter and the teachers pets Baker and Graham among other things

 

[Keys]

Owies embraces new best mates

It’s been a smooth move so far for new Eagles recruit Matt Owies

www.westcoasteagles.com.au

Club article based on Matt Owies press conference from Monday which includes a link to the video of it

Big Jamie Cripps fan which he says is the reason he took number 16 so he could be next to Crippa in the locker room

 

[Keys]

And on interview with Owies on SEN with Hase

Covers some of the same areas his press conference did but expands on them a bit more

Living across the road from Lathlain temporarily and has Sandy Brock living with him

Link to the audio is at the end of the article

 

[Keys]

Jack Graham’s first press conference as an Eagle

 

[Keys]

First day back after the break and the club has rolled out Matt Flynn for the first press conference of the year. Sounds like only two reporters there so they’ve collectively voted with their feet it seems

Thought they might have put up one of the big guns - no McQualter (who I think only did one press conference before the break), no Pyke or neither of the club captains

Could have trotted out Worsfold who hasn’t officially spoken to the media since assuming the Head of Football role

 

[Keys]

Liam Ryan speaking to the press at the launch of the indigenous game jumper they’ll be wearing when the lads play Fremantle in February

 

[Keys]

Jack Williams on 6PR tonight

He should be a lock for that 3rd tall/backup ruck role

 

[Keys]

Traffic has been pretty low in this thread which is a reflection of the club not doing much in the way of press conferences or having players do interviews on sports shows like the post above. Admittedly a lot of those shows are either in hibernation or focusing on other sports during the AFL offseason

We’ve had -
• a solitary press conference with McQualter when the players first returned for preseason and nothing since. Thought we’d have heard from him again post the break given they’ve been back for 2 weeks
• no press conference with Pyke since the club has returned for preseason
• no press conference with Worsfold at all since he started his new role

Would be nice to hear from someone senior within the club to give some insight on how they feel things are tracking and what the plans for the remainder of preseason are

 

[Keys]

First press conference for Liam Baker since he arrived at the club. Spike really well and has that laid back country view that is happy to joke around but serious when required to get to work

Said his ankle is fine and would’ve played today if it was an actual game so no concerns there

 

[Keys]

First we’ve heard from McQualter in any meaningful sense since the Christmas break. Unfortunately, most of the questions come from Hardie but there is some good nuggets in there

• Game style expected to be a side that’s fast and works hard both ways
• Having Baker and Graham at the club has been beneficial in implementing parts of the game plan
• Plenty of positions available for R1 and last year draftees are in with a chance of selection
• Impressed with the conditioning of the players and feels we have an athletic squad especially with the addition of so many young players (22 under 22 gets a mention)
• Kelly, Reid, Duggan, Graham, Hewett, Hutchinson and Gross all mentioned as players capable of filling the void left by Yeo (no timeframe for a return asked for or given)
• Is having difficulty picking a best 22 but expects that to reveal itself in coming weeks as practice matches start
• Reid not considered an injury but is a bit sore. Has done a lot of fitness work post Christmas. Points out he’s still 19 and it will take a few years to build his core fitness base
• Increasing our fitness base to arrest down patches during games
• Nine new players and 4 new coaches gives a bit of a blank canvas for selection. There’s some certainties but plenty of spots up for grabs
• Confident something will be sorted with Allen’s contract in the not too distant future. The club loves Oscar and loves the club
• Hewett has had a great preseason and done almost everything laid out in his program. Does qualify his comments by saying he’s missed a lot of footy but there’s been some really impressive signs

 

[Keys]

Gavin Bell on SEN WA, February 11 - West Coast Eagles Football Club

Gavin Bell on SEN WA, February 11

omny.fm

Gavin Bell the first interviewee for Mark Duffield who’s SEN morning show has restarted for 2025

• Sheed was an innocuous incident on his first day back to full training after rehabbing his foot. Priority is seeing him get through his surgery
• Still hopeful that Yeo will be available in early part of the season, recovery is going well
• Reid they’re managing to ensure he’s right to go for the season. No concerns with how he’s tracking
• Confdent that Oscar Allen stays
• Still searching across other competitions to see if there are any better SSP options
• Didn’t directly say yes but sounds like they will put Sheed on the inactive list
• Haven’t finalised who’ll play against Richmond and looking at playing all 3 train on players to help with decision on who to offer a contract to
• Goal is to build a side who is fast, athletic and tough that’s plays a front half game, forcing turnovers as quickly as possible
• Draftees have impressed and will get preseason game time
• Harry Taylor is now doing leadership/mentoring with some of the players in addition to his off field work

 

[Keys]

Article and link to video of press conference with Kelly and Livingstone ahead of the indigenous game against Fremantle

Includes the admission from Kelly that he’d fallen out of love for the game

 

[Keys]

Coen Livingstone on 6PR, February 12 - West Coast Eagles Football Club

Coen Livingstone on 6PR, February 12

omny.fm

Coen Livingstone on 6PR talking about his selection in the Indigenous All Stars side

Has made a point of adding a few kegs over the offseason to build the bulk and strength required to ruck