Andrew McQualter enlists West Coast's AFLW coach Daisy Pearce to help struggling men's program
The Eagles (1-18) have won just 11 games since the start of 2022, and will collect their second wooden spoon in the space of three years.
Given how dire the past four years have been, West Coast will formally ask the AFL for a priority pick.
That impending request has already attracted a wave of criticism from fans and experts, given West Coast won the flag in 2018 and reached the finals as recently as 2020.
McQualter has endured a tough debut year and is desperate to fast-track the team's rebuild.
The 39-year-old revealed on Thursday that part of his plan was to tap into the knowledge of AFLW trailblazer Pearce, who is the coach of West Coast's women's team.
Pearce led the Eagles to a 4-7 record in her first year as coach — the best return for the club in its six-season AFLW history.
The 37-year-old previously served as a development coach with Geelong before landing the top role with the Eagles.
"Daisy has finished her first year, added a second pre-season, and I will really look to use Daisy as a resource as to what she learned over that period," McQualter said.
"Just with where we're at as a team and a club; we have to get better really quickly.
"So if there's something I can learn from Daisy coming into her second season as coach, I'll look to learn it and implement it, because it's going to be a really critical period for our club over the next six to 12 months."
Pearce, who captained Melbourne to the 2022 AFLW flag during her glittering 55-game career, is eager to learn more from West Coast's men's program.
"I'm really excited to work with 'Mini' over the next few years … so that I can develop myself, help out however I can, and just keep bringing our programs closer and closer together," Pearce said.
McQualter defended West Coast's plea for a priority pick.
"We're just looking at it from the performances of the last four years and the history of what priority picks get given for," McQualter said.
"We think we qualify, so we've applied for it.
"We're in a rush to get better, and if it's a way that we can get better, we're willing to apply for it."
Even if they get knocked back, West Coast is still likely to have the first two picks in the national draft.
Pick number one will be for finishing last, while if restricted free agent Oscar Allen heads to Brisbane as expected, the Eagles will almost certainly be handed pick number two as compensation.
West Coast will be without Harley Reid (ankle) for the rest of the season, leaving the Eagles even more vulnerable for Saturday's clash with Melbourne at Docklands Stadium.
AAP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Swimming development funding shortfall threatens Olympic dreams, coaches say
As Australia celebrates its World Championship swimming success, there are fresh warnings that the next generation of winners is not getting the support it needs. Swimming Queensland's chief executive Kevin Hasemann said there were about 600 teenagers in the state's development programs, but the majority were not receiving any financial support to cover competition and training costs in the lead-up to Brisbane's 2032 Olympics. "I expect the Australian public would be as mystified and disheartened as we are that several billions of dollars will be spent on Games-related infrastructure, including a new aquatics facility," Mr Hasemann said. "But little, if anything, is going to the junior swimmers who face the herculean challenge of replacing our current batch of Olympic and Paralympic medallists." Mr Hasemann said government funding was available, but it was mostly limited to elite athletes. He said Swimming Queensland was relying on donations from Australia's richest woman, Gina Rinehart, to run development programs. Mr Hasemann said he asked the Queensland government for about $500,000 a year to help young swimmers in the lead-up to the Brisbane Games. But he has not had any luck. "The sad thing about this is that when the penny drops, it can be far too late," he said. "Because the work needs to be happening right now. Seven years for a young athlete is a very short period of time. You can't afford to get it wrong." Luca Widmer, 17, is one of the athletes in Swimming Queensland's development program. He trains for 18 hours a week with his club at Caloundra, north of Brisbane, juggling that with year 12 studies. "I've had the dream of competing at the Olympics my entire life," he said. "I know that road ahead is long and it's tough, but I know that if I want it badly enough and I have the right support, anything is possible." For up-and-coming swimmers like Luca, travelling to competitions and paying for top trainers is crucial. But his mother Leanne Bullemor said proud parents like her were doing most of the financial heavy lifting. "Over the last 12 months, just looking at the financial side of things, with my two boys competing in development programs, it would have cost $20,000 for me to support them," she said. "That's just the training fees, the membership fees, the competition fees I have to pay." Ms Bullemor said local clubs and Swimming Queensland were doing the best they could with what they had. But she said state and federal governments should do more to help. "Our state is very proud. We're an extremely proud swimming state," she said. Luca is training in the same pool that launched Olympic gold medallist Kaylee McKeown's career. His swimming coach Theo Fuchs, who trained for the Olympics in France, pointed out Australia's toughest opponents in the pool, the United States and China, would not be waiting for us to catch up. "We need more money for swimmers, we need more money for coaches," he said. "If you look at the top countries in the world, they are supported by money, and if you want to be doing good consistently, then you have to have that support." The Queensland government didn't respond to questions about whether it would deliver on Swimming Queensland's development funding request. But, in a statement, a spokesperson for the state's Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said more than $5 million would be spent on high-performance swimmers in the lead-up to the Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics in 2028. The federal government didn't respond.
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
AFL Watch: West Coast ruckman puts hand up for recall as youngsters struggle in the wet
West Coast's WAFL side continues to struggle, losing by 69 points to an in-form East Perth outfit in wet conditions on Saturday. Here's how the 11 AFL-listed Eagles went. Harry Barnett: Kicked an early goal and battled hard up forward as he continues to develop in several roles. Sandy Brock: Didn't touch the footy until after half-time but had plenty to do as East Perth surged ahead after quarter-time. Malakai Champion: Went into the midfield where he thrived, finishing with a career-high 20 touches. Matt Flynn: The ruckman responded to his axing with 24 touches, 30 hit-outs and five clearances against Scott Jones to be his side's best. Lucca Grego: Had a quiet game across half- back in the wet conditions. Looks to be tiring in his first season. Jayden Hunt: Showed leadership and skill in defence with 22 touches as he looks to break back into the AFL side. Jack Hutchinson: Had a strong first half with 15 touches and three clearances but didn't play after half-time because of a hamstring injury. Harvey Johnston: Is still learning his role at half-back but was good in the contest in tough conditions. Coen Livingstone: Kicked a pair of goals as a lead-up forward and competed hard against plenty of experienced Royals. Noah Long: Struggled for impact. Didn't register his first disposal until after half-time and finished with just 10 and five tackles as he was moved into the midfield. Jack Williams: A poor game from the experienced forward who had just the six touches and one mark. He didn't hit the scoreboard.
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Call-up looms for Fyfe after Young cut down again
Dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe could receive an SOS call as early as this week as Fremantle attempt to fill the void left by another frustrating injury to Hayden Young. Young tweaked his groin in Fremantle's 27-point win over Carlton at Optus Stadium on Sunday. The 24-year-old was playing just his third game back from hamstring surgery, and his groin setback leaves a massive hole in the midfield. Fremantle initially struggled against Carlton without Young's big body and class, with the Dockers trailing by 24 points at half-time before Jaeger O'Meara's move to the midfield to quell the influence of George Hewett helped turn the tables. Fyfe has missed most of the season after injuring his hamstring soon after returning from knee surgery. The 33-year-old made his belated return in round 12, before injuring his calf just three matches later while warming up at half-time when he was the sub. Fyfe's latest bid to get back in the AFL side began on Saturday when he racked up 27 disposals, six tackles and five clearances while playing for Peel Thunder in the WAFL. That huge display came despite him being rested for the entire final quarter, with Fyfe now a chance to return to the AFL side for Saturday night's clash with the Power in Adelaide. "I thought he was the best player on the ground for his 60 minutes," Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said of Fyfe. "He only played 60 minutes though, so we'll have a chat during the week. "He'll be involved in that and work out his next progression and whether there's a spot in the side." Asked whether Fyfe needed some continuity first, Longmuir replied: "A little bit, but we're running out of time in the season and we need to put our best team out there to win next week. "A lot of things will come into consideration with him and Alex Pearce coming back, but we need to get going as well. "So we'll see what it spits out at selection." If Fyfe plays, there's a strong chance he will be the sub. His bigger body and experience could prove crucial if the game is on the line late on. Pearce has played just one of Fremantle's past nine matches due to a hot spot in his shin, but is in line to return against Port. Fremantle have just three more matches - against Port, Brisbane and the Bulldogs - before the finals begin, so the race is on for Young to overcome his injury and build up fitness. Although Young's groin injury isn't considered serious, it further compromises his season given he has already suffered two hamstring tears this year. "Today's injury was just a bit unlucky and a bit more of a twisting action," Longmuir said. "But yeah, when you miss as much work as he did over pre-season, and he's had repeat hammies, it puts you in serious risk when you come back."
