The West Coast Eagles have reportedly decided on multiple coaching changes ahead of an off-season that is likely to be dominated by change.
Senior coach Adam Simpson has been under continuous pressure amid the Eagles' horrendous season, with his position uncertain going into the 2024 season.
However, it's the positions of his assistants that have reportedly been decided by West Coast's powerbrokers heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
According to 9News Perth's Paddy Sweeney on Monday, Eagles backline coach Daniel Pratt is expected to see the door at year's end, while forwards coach Luke Webster is expected to be replaced in that position by incumbent midfield coach Matthew Knights.
Before Pratt was placed in charge of conducting the Eagles' backmen, he coached both the AFLW and WAFL sides until the end of the 2021 season.
With Knights, who was Essendon's senior coach between 2008-10, supposedly preparing to coach West Coast's forwards, current strategy and stoppages coach Jarrad Schofield will step into a larger midfield coaching responsibility, according to Sweeney.
"As doubt remains over Simpson's [coaching] future, 9News can reveal changes are coming in the Eagles' coaching ranks," reported Sweeney on Monday evening.
"Daniel Pratt is set to depart the club, [while] Matthew Knights is set to replace Luke Webster in charge of the forwards, leaving current strategy and stoppages coach Jarrad Schofield to take on a bigger midfield role."
Dean Cox won’t be part of any @WestCoastEagles coaching shake-up.
The premiership ruckman planned to take over from John Longmire at @sydneyswans@9NewsPerth @FootyonNine https://t.co/h9uxafeXNH
— Paddy Sweeney (@SweeneyPaddy9) August 21, 2023
As Simpson continues to face pressure from the club's higher-ups, the Eagles prepare for their final game of the 2023 season; a home affair with the Adelaide Crows.
The Eagles surrendered their vice-like hold on this year's No. 1 draft selection following a shock victory over the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium last Sunday afternoon, with their clash against the Crows in the final round of the home-and-away season set to determine the club's draft standing after a horror three-win 2023 campaign.
