Keys
Looking for a cloud to yell at
- Moderator
- #1
The jungle drums are beating and if we are to believe the media, they’ll soon have the scalp they’ve been hunting all season
So in the event the club decides to set fire to a stack of cash, who are the options to come in and sweep up the ashes?
There’s plenty of candidates and only one other club (Richmond) looking to fill a vacancy. In all likelihood they will make their appointment of a new coach before West Coast begin their own search if required
Experienced Coaches
The success rate of retreads as coach of another club is low. Since Matthews guided Brisbane to a three peat to start the century only Malthouse at Collingwood in 2010 has won a flag at a new club. Every other premiership coach was in their first senior coaching position so prior experience isn’t any guarantee of success. If anything, it’s the opposite but ….
Don Pyke
Enjoyed success as an assistant at West Coast before guiding Adelaide to a GF and a subsequent preseason camp that left the club in disarray and ultimately Pyke without a job. Returned to the assistant coaching ranks at Sydney where he’s again had a positive influence
I’d like him at the club, but not as coach. He’s a potential Nisbett replacement as CEO or would suit as a coaching director to assist a first time coach
Nathan Buckley
Seems pretty content in the media now and is unlikely to consider a move west but no doubt his name will be thrown up. Unlikely
Justin Leppitsch
Had an ill fated stint at Brisbane for 3 years when they were a basket case before successful stints at Richmond and, more recently, Collingwood as an assistant
Think he’s one of those guys who’s a good assistant and given he’s not sought the Richmond job, seems unlikely to chase one at West Coast
There’s others - Ben Rutten, David Teague, Brendan Bolton, Stewart Dew etc etc but I doubt any of them would be seriously considered
Noobs
Jarrad Schofield
Came across from Port as a senior assistant to begin the 2022 season with many at the time viewing him as an eventual successor to Simpson. The performance of the team during his two years has arguably done more harm than good to his case however
Hugely successful at Subiaco as head coach before an assistant role at Port enhanced his reputation
The club will have a very good handle on his performance under Simpson (good, bad or indifferent) and he would allow for a relatively smooth transition. It must be said that assistants taking over the senior role at their existing club haven’t had a good strike rate
He’d definitely be in the mix and a strong candidate
Dean Cox
After retiring as a player at the end of 2014, Cox spent 3 years as an assistant at West Coast before joining Sydney for the 2018 season onwards
Is well regarded in Sydney and is considered a potential successor to John Longmire
A Pyke-Cox tandem as CEO-Coach is a tantalising prospect especially coming from such a successful club as Sydney where they’ve both had significant input
There’s a danger with favoured sins returning as coach but Cox has served a significant apprenticeship away from the club that would mitigate that.
Ash Hansen
Another West Coast premiership player but one who’s spent a long time away from the club. Was at the Bulldogs in a variety of roles for 9 years before joining Carlton as a senior assistant to Voss
Seen as a senior coach in waiting he’s been on the shortlist of several recent vacancies he has a good pedigree
Reportedly declined an offer as an assistant at West Coast at the end of 2021 which indicates he has support at the club
Jaymie Graham
Another former Eagle, just not a premiership one. Had a long stint under Simpson before moving down the road
Like Hansen, he’s seen as a future senior coach and has flirted with previous opportunities at other clubs but has baulked at leaving WA. Pulled out of the Richmond race preferring to gain more experience at Fremantle
Josh Carr
If there’s an opposite to a favourite son, then Carr would be it
Spent time at Fremantle and Port as an assistant and was considered a favourite for the Richmond job before withdrawing, some say to pursue a succession plan to Hinkley
I know he’s highly regarded, but this would be a tough one to stomach and hard to get behind
Chris Newman
Appears to be the front runner for the Richmond job so might not be available
He’s been assistant at Hawthorn since 2016 so has time under Clarkson and now Mitchell. Had a successful stint as coach of Hawthorns VFL affiliate, Boxhill, giving him a good reputation for developing players which should appeal
Plenty of others and a search through the Richmond wannabes gives up the likes of Daniel Giansiracusa, Adam Yze, Robert Harvey and Scott Burns among others
Personally I’d lean to Jarrad Schofield but as I mentioned Dean Cox, in combination with Don Pyke in some capacity other than head coach, holds some appeal
One thing is for sure, despite our recent woes there won’t be any shortage of well credentialed applicants lining up for the job
Who’s your pick?
PS: I’ll put a poll up later, maybe once it’s Simpson does get moved on should that occur
So in the event the club decides to set fire to a stack of cash, who are the options to come in and sweep up the ashes?
There’s plenty of candidates and only one other club (Richmond) looking to fill a vacancy. In all likelihood they will make their appointment of a new coach before West Coast begin their own search if required
Experienced Coaches
The success rate of retreads as coach of another club is low. Since Matthews guided Brisbane to a three peat to start the century only Malthouse at Collingwood in 2010 has won a flag at a new club. Every other premiership coach was in their first senior coaching position so prior experience isn’t any guarantee of success. If anything, it’s the opposite but ….
Don Pyke
Enjoyed success as an assistant at West Coast before guiding Adelaide to a GF and a subsequent preseason camp that left the club in disarray and ultimately Pyke without a job. Returned to the assistant coaching ranks at Sydney where he’s again had a positive influence
I’d like him at the club, but not as coach. He’s a potential Nisbett replacement as CEO or would suit as a coaching director to assist a first time coach
Nathan Buckley
Seems pretty content in the media now and is unlikely to consider a move west but no doubt his name will be thrown up. Unlikely
Justin Leppitsch
Had an ill fated stint at Brisbane for 3 years when they were a basket case before successful stints at Richmond and, more recently, Collingwood as an assistant
Think he’s one of those guys who’s a good assistant and given he’s not sought the Richmond job, seems unlikely to chase one at West Coast
There’s others - Ben Rutten, David Teague, Brendan Bolton, Stewart Dew etc etc but I doubt any of them would be seriously considered
Noobs
Jarrad Schofield
Came across from Port as a senior assistant to begin the 2022 season with many at the time viewing him as an eventual successor to Simpson. The performance of the team during his two years has arguably done more harm than good to his case however
Hugely successful at Subiaco as head coach before an assistant role at Port enhanced his reputation
The club will have a very good handle on his performance under Simpson (good, bad or indifferent) and he would allow for a relatively smooth transition. It must be said that assistants taking over the senior role at their existing club haven’t had a good strike rate
He’d definitely be in the mix and a strong candidate
Dean Cox
After retiring as a player at the end of 2014, Cox spent 3 years as an assistant at West Coast before joining Sydney for the 2018 season onwards
Is well regarded in Sydney and is considered a potential successor to John Longmire
A Pyke-Cox tandem as CEO-Coach is a tantalising prospect especially coming from such a successful club as Sydney where they’ve both had significant input
There’s a danger with favoured sins returning as coach but Cox has served a significant apprenticeship away from the club that would mitigate that.
Ash Hansen
Another West Coast premiership player but one who’s spent a long time away from the club. Was at the Bulldogs in a variety of roles for 9 years before joining Carlton as a senior assistant to Voss
Seen as a senior coach in waiting he’s been on the shortlist of several recent vacancies he has a good pedigree
Reportedly declined an offer as an assistant at West Coast at the end of 2021 which indicates he has support at the club
Jaymie Graham
Another former Eagle, just not a premiership one. Had a long stint under Simpson before moving down the road
Like Hansen, he’s seen as a future senior coach and has flirted with previous opportunities at other clubs but has baulked at leaving WA. Pulled out of the Richmond race preferring to gain more experience at Fremantle
Josh Carr
If there’s an opposite to a favourite son, then Carr would be it
Spent time at Fremantle and Port as an assistant and was considered a favourite for the Richmond job before withdrawing, some say to pursue a succession plan to Hinkley
I know he’s highly regarded, but this would be a tough one to stomach and hard to get behind
Chris Newman
Appears to be the front runner for the Richmond job so might not be available
He’s been assistant at Hawthorn since 2016 so has time under Clarkson and now Mitchell. Had a successful stint as coach of Hawthorns VFL affiliate, Boxhill, giving him a good reputation for developing players which should appeal
Plenty of others and a search through the Richmond wannabes gives up the likes of Daniel Giansiracusa, Adam Yze, Robert Harvey and Scott Burns among others
Personally I’d lean to Jarrad Schofield but as I mentioned Dean Cox, in combination with Don Pyke in some capacity other than head coach, holds some appeal
One thing is for sure, despite our recent woes there won’t be any shortage of well credentialed applicants lining up for the job
Who’s your pick?
PS: I’ll put a poll up later, maybe once it’s Simpson does get moved on should that occur
