West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson remains hopeful after his team’s 30-point defeat to Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
The Eagles were overrun in the final term but showed strength for long stretches under the dome, ultimately lacking the endurance and x-factor to secure an upset win away from home.
Now 16th on the ladder with three wins from 14 games, the season is aligning more with expectations for the Eagles, despite their exciting earlier victories over Fremantle and Melbourne.
Simpson is eager to reintegrate his number one draft pick, Harley Reid, back into the team from suspension, along with star midfielder Tim Kelly, though he avoids suggesting a dependence on his star players.
Highlighting the team’s development and growth, Simpson said in the post-match press conference, “We’re chasing the long game here.”
“I know three wins are not great for our supporters and our members, but we’re glass half-full.”
A positive note was the return of co-captain Oscar Allen, who played his first game since round one following a knee injury. Allen’s impact was immediate with 13 disposals, nine marks, and two goals from six scoring shots.
His addition to a forward line with Jake Waterman performing excellently and Jack Darling maintaining his position could present challenges for Simpson, who now has to manage three top players in the same area.
“It’s great to have ‘Ozzie’ back,” Simpson said.
“We’ll need to evaluate if this setup will work for us, and whether we continue with it or not, we’ll keep assessing.”
Liam Ryan also impressed, delivering 19 disposals and six clearances in an unfamiliar midfield role. Simpson is eager to further explore Ryan’s versatility.
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“He added speed to our play and his skill helps in changing angles,” Simpson noted.
The Eagles are set to welcome back several key players for an exciting clash next week, including Tim Kelly and Dom Sheed, who have been recovering from injuries. The most anticipated return is that of Harley Reid, whose comeback is highly anticipated against a young and in-form Hawks side at home.
“He’s quite eager,” Simpson shared.
“I can’t say how well he’s handled being on the opposing team during our match simulations on Thursday. He’s had to bide his time while not playing, but we’re excited to have him back.”
If anyone wants to hear more from the West Coast coach before the upcoming clash, there will be opportunities throughout the week!
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