With the West Coast Eagles on a bye and the Harley Reid hype paused due to his suspension, it’s clear that the pressure is back on Adam Simpson.
The Eagles, while not as disastrous as last season, remain near the bottom of the ladder with just three wins. Their only seemingly winnable game left is against North Melbourne in Round 22, but given the Kangaroos’ recent dominance over West Coast, even that is uncertain.
If the Eagles fail to win another game this season, they face the prospect of consecutive wooden spoons, likely signaling the end for Simpson. Despite a poor 2023 season, Simpson avoided termination, a testament to his resilience. However, his tenure could soon end as the team’s performance has been lackluster despite a healthier roster.
Simpson has credited his players’ health and talent, like Jeremy McGovern and Jake Waterman, for their competitiveness this season. Yet, veterans like Dom Sheed and Andrew Gaff appear to be struggling, and the team’s reliance on young stars like Reid cannot mask their broader issues.
As the season wraps up with a tough match against Geelong, it’s hard to see how Simpson can continue if the Eagles’ poor form persists.
