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West Coast coach Adam Simpson confident of future direction after ‘well and truly’ identifying Eagles list

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Aaron KirbyThe West Australian
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Adam Simpson says the Eagles know where their list is at entering a rebuild.
Camera IconAdam Simpson says the Eagles know where their list is at entering a rebuild. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos

Coach Adam Simpson says West Coast know where their list is at after using 47 players in their dismal two-win 2022 season.

With an extensive rebuild on the horizon, Simpson said the Eagles knew which direction they would take after their round 23 outing against Geelong on Saturday.

“We have well and truly identified our list and where it’s at, so that’s been pleasing that everyone has got an opportunity,” he told Sportsday Victoria.

“There’s no arguments when you make list decisions when everyone has played.

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“I think we are on the right path, but until we start winning, I can’t give you any evidence.”

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Injuries and COVID-19 turned what was supposed to be a last push for premiership glory into a nightmare, unveiling that their list was thin underneath the club’s aging stars.

West Coast won just one game before their round 13 bye with a string of 10-goal losses and two 100-point defeats.

But Simpson is taking a “glass half-full” approach to reviewing the season, especially to their performances post-bye and some of the young gems they have found.

“We can look at our season two ways,” he said.

“One the disappointment where we fell very short of where we thought we would get to.

Jamaine Jones has been identified as a highlight of the Eagles’ season.
Camera IconJamaine Jones has been identified as a highlight of the Eagles’ season. Credit: Darrian Traynor/via AFL Photos

“But since the bye, we have been much more competitive with our results.”

Jamaine Jones, 23, Brady Hough, 19, and Rhett Bazzo, 18 were three of the year’s highlights who would be big parts of the club’s future.

Simpson also picked out the rise and rise of Tom Barrass.

“We are looking for people to take over from Luke Shuey and Naitaui and Kennedy,” he said.

“(Barrass) is destroying opponents at the moment. I’m really pleased to see the growth from a leadership point of view.”

He also put Oscar Allen and Liam Duggan into the leadership discussion.

The Eagles have nearly a dozen players unavailable for the clash with the Cats at GMHBA, many of those having missed more than half a season, but Simpson was confident he would have a full contingent of healthy players for the start of pre-season.

“We will get the chance to refresh,” he said.

“To get our players refreshed, energised, fit and healthy, there is plenty of time.

“We’re already onto it really since the bye, so some of the guys who had season-ending injuries are well and truly getting their fitness levels right.”

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