Latest news with #AndrewMcQualter
West Australian
2 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Western derby: West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says the Eagles are embracing underdog tag
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says the Eagles are embracing the underdog tag as they attempt to defy heavy odds and upset raging favourites Fremantle in western derby 61. The Dockers are an almost unbackable $1.03 with TABTouch to beat the one-win Eagles at Optus Stadium on Saturday and draw closer in the all-time head-to-head which sits at 33-27 in favour of the latter. Fremantle have won eight of their past nine games to sit comfortably in the top eight and are pushing to secure a double chance for the first time in 10 years. The in-form Dockers are expected to easily account for last-placed West Coast, who are all but certain to claim a third wooden spoon in club history with only five games remaining in their season. McQualter said taking on a rampaging Fremantle in front of a nearly packed house of the purple faithful was a challenge they would embrace. 'Absolutely we do (embrace being underdogs). It's no surprise, I'm not sure the last time that a team was $1.03 and lost but that's the beauty of this game,' he said. 'We're a young, developing team. We didn't play our best footy last week and these guys have been in really good form for a large chunk of the back end of this season. 'It's a great challenge, we're embracing that and we can't wait.' West Coast are looking to rebound from a disappointing 49-point defeat to 17th-placed Richmond last weekend in what many viewed as their best chance to get a second win this season. Despite the loss, McQualter made only two changes at the selection table, dropping forward Jack Williams and sub Jack Petruccelle in favour of the returning Elijah Hewett and second-year utility Archer Reid. McQualter defended the lack of moves at the selection table, saying they didn't play too bad for three quarters despite a third-term dismantling when the Tigers kicked eight goals to one. 'Ultimately you look at last week's game, three of the quarters were OK, one quarter was really poor,' he said. 'The WAFL (team) didn't have a game last week which is sometimes good for the WAFL players and sometimes not great. 'There's some things from our players that we're seeing some development but we need some more consistency clearly.' The loss of Williams means the Eagles will play young key forwards Reid and Jobe Shanahan in attack for the first time. The pair have played a combined 15 games and kicked nine goals in their fledgling careers. It comes as they continue to deal with season-ending injuries to co-captain Oscar Allen (calf and knee) and 2024 All-Australian Jake Waterman. 'It's a huge challenge. Key forward — not that I played it — but I assume it's one of the most difficult positions on the ground,' McQualter said. 'We've got two seriously young players but we think there's enormous upside with the way they go about their football. 'I think it's the first time they've played together in the forward line. When Jobe was playing WAFL, he was playing down back so there might be chemistry that takes a bit of time but it's exciting for our fans.' Meanwhile, West Coast are awaiting news on the severity of an ankle injury to top draftee Bo Allan after he went down at training on Thursday. Allan was caught in a tackle during a session at Mineral Resources Park and was carried off the field with a left ankle injury. 'We're still gathering a little bit of the information but he's certainly not going to play football this weekend,' McQualter said. 'And then we'll work out whether it's a long-term injury or whatever it is but it's unfortunate for the young fella. 'He's had a tough year this year, he's had a coupe of different injuries and lacked a bit of continuity so it's a bit of a shame.'
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
‘Unfair' new reality facing Harley Reid: ‘Very, very boring'
The 'unfair' new reality of life under a heavy tag is going to get 'very, very boring' for Harley Reid, according to Kane Cornes, with even a West Coast teammate admitting they need to 'learn how to help' the star midfielder. Reid thrived in the first half of the Eagles' loss to Richmond on Saturday night but was held to just four touches in the third quarter, coinciding with the Tigers kicking out to a 53-point lead. He pushed forward to kick two goals in the last term before late goals to Richmond pushed the final margin back out to 49 points. The following day 7NEWS Perth's Ryan Daniels revealed Reid's management had put forward multiple proposals that would keep the 20-year-old at West Coast. One of the deals could shake out to a $20 million contract over 10 years. Eagles coach Andrew McQualter praised Reid for being 'super invested' in the club and joked about locking him down as soon as possible. 'I've got a pen in my pocket, I'm heading over there after this,' he told 7NEWS Perth. West Coast are more hopeful than ever of keeping Reid despite their lack of on-field success, with Caroline Wilson suggesting a divide has opened up. Reid is not interested in joining a rebuilding Victorian club, she said on The Agenda Setters, while others are baulking at the salary demands. Andrew McQualter admits it's not ideal that a 20-year-old is carrying the Eagles' midfield. Credit: Getty 'The player and his family have made it clear they do not want to go a struggling club,' Wilson said on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters. 'They've got no interest in St Kilda and North Melbourne. I'm not sure they've got much interest in Essendon but Essendon certainly have no interest at that sort of money. At that money, yes, they have (ruled themselves out). 'They think Hawthorn are right in there, Hawthorn say there's been no meaningful talks. Others say Richmond and Melbourne are having a crack. 'What happened was I think West Coast also said to the management 'we're not interested in that sort of money either'. It's ridiculous money for an unproven player. 'What has happened in the last 24 hours — I think West Coast have come back to the table and we're talking significantly more than $1.5m a year.' Craig Hutchison said: 'They're the only ones that can really meaningfully overpay and justify it at the moment, I think.' Cornes questions whether such a large offer from any club is 'good for him'. 'No criticism to him but are West Coast, with the issues they've had with the behaviour of their biggest stars over the journey — is that setting him up in the best possible way to be the best player he can be?' he asked. Already seen as the saviour at the Eagles, Cornes worries that Reid will now become bogged down by the tag. 'This is what he's going to get every week,' he said. 'He gets 20 in the first half (against Richmond), he's on track for career-best numbers and they go 'OK we've had enough of this, we're just going to put a tagger on him'. 'If you play West Coast you are stupid if you don't tag Harley Reid, which is so unfair for him in his second year to cop that. 'It is going to get very, very boring for him playing in that side when he cops that treatment and loses every week.' Reid's Eagles teammate Reuben Ginbey admitted it was 'quite new to us' to see Reid tagged and needing help. 'Harley is a phenomenal player, and he was phenomenal in that first half,' Ginbey said on Monday. 'We've got to learn how to help Harles out to keep him in the game, because he's super important for us. 'But we can't just rely on a few. We've got to rely on the whole team to step up in times like that.' McQualter acknowledged after the game 'we've got a 20-year-old carrying our midfield'. 'It's not an easy position for him,' he said. 'As a team we have to find more people and players and ways to not rely on one person. I thought Harley was by far our best player tonight. 'I loved his team-first approach, the way he attacked the ball. He was inspirational to his teammates. I love the way he went about it.'
West Australian
5 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says some Eagles are fighting for their careers after Richmond defeat
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says several Eagles have five weeks to fight for their careers in the wake of their disappointing 49-point loss to fellow battlers Richmond. The Eagles have a dozen players out of contract at the end of this season including veterans in Tom Cole, Jamie Cripps and Jayden Hunt as well as top draftee Campbell Chesser and speedster Jack Petruccelle. Co-captain Oscar Allen is also without a new deal at the Eagles beyond 2025 and is widely believed to be headed to Brisbane as a free agent on a six-year deal. West Coast have all but secured a third wooden spoon and could finish with only one win for the season for the first time in their history after the 16.9 (105) to 8.8 (56) defeat to Richmond at Optus Stadium on Saturday night. The Eagles made a whopping 11 list changes last year and are likely to make plenty this off-season through trades, delistings and retirements. Cripps has been open about his desire to play on next year, while Cole was dropped back to the WAFL earlier this year, but his leadership could be needed in defence in the wake of the retirement of five-time All-Australian Jeremy McGovern. Hunt has found himself back in the reserves after he was axed in the wake of their round 16 defeat to Collingwood, while Chesser is yet to make an AFL appearance this year as he's struggled for consistent form since returning from ankle surgery. Petruccelle played his second AFL game for the season against Richmond, playing as the sub once again having not featured since round two against Brisbane. McQualter said there were players who needed to stand up in the last part of the season to hold their spot on the list for next year. 'Every year, that's absolutely what happens. There's list changes every year, there's guys that'll be out of contract and there'll be list changes every year like there are at every club,' he said. 'That's just how the AFL industry works, and the reality is there's five more games for people to fight for their spots.' McQualter conceded there was a void in confidence among the players that is 'hurting deep in the souls of our players' when they would be on top in the game but not get the reward on the scoreboard. The first-year coach said it was a 'simple' fix though. 'You just have to do the work, that's as simple as it is,' McQualter said. 'We just have to keep creating a culture that people want to do the work. They're invested, they care about each other, they care about the team and no one else can do it for you. 'We'll just keep doing the work, we'll keep finding the right people that want to the do the work and build.' Part of that is to find support for young star Harley Reid who starred in the first half against Richmond with 20 disposals and six clearances before he was heavily tagged by Jack Ross. Reid went into attack in the final quarter and kicked two of the Eagles' three goals to ensure he continued to have an influence. McQualter said the Eagles had to find players to support Reid into the future. 'It's a difficult position at the moment but as a team we have to find more people and players and ways to not rely on one person,' he said. 'There's no AFL team ever that relies on one player to be good so we're going to keep working hard to find and create players that can keep influencing the game.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Coach rejects Harley Reid claim as Hinkley wows with response to Jack Ginnivan act
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has dismissed suggestions the Eagles' poor form could convince Harley Reid to the leave the club. The Eagles slumped to an eighth-consecutive loss on Saturday night when they were walloped by 49 points by fellow AFL strugglers Richmond. Reid racked up 20 disposals and six clearances in the first half, but was restricted to just four possessions in the third quarter as the Eagles imploded. West Coast trailed by just nine points at the half before Richmond piled on eight goals to one in a devastating third-quarter blitz to run away with the 16.9 (105) to 8.8 (56) win. Richmond coach Adem Yze admitted he felt "sorry for the kid" after 20-year-old Reid was given a hard tag by Jack Ross. The No.1 draft pick has now become the No.1 target for opposition taggers. West Coast are now 1-17 on the year and all-but certain to collect a second wooden spoon in three seasons. Reid has only experienced six wins in 38 games so far in his young career, but McQualter doesn't think it will dissuade him from sticking around. RELATED: Jake Stringer cops sanction from AFL after GWS Giants victory Former Hawthorn figure floated to join Essendon after shock exit Reid is from country Victoria, and speculation is rife he'll look to move home when his deal with the Eagles expires. "I think if you see Harley and the way he's invested, he's absolutely in and he's a competitor," McQualter said after the game. "He's wanting to do everything to get this club out of this position. Nobody likes losing, I appreciate that part of it. We're all sick to death of it to be honest. But we're the only people that can make a change. It's people inside the four walls that can get us out of here and we have to do it together." Ken Hinkley praised for response to Jack Ginnivan 'payback' Meanwhile, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has been praised for his "brilliant" response to a goal celebration from Jack Ginnivan that was directed at him during Hawthorn's win on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks got some payback on Port with a 38-point in Launceston after the Power knocked them out of the finals last year. After that spiteful match last season, Hinkley copped a $20,000 fine for taunting Ginnivan by telling him "you're not flying" - a reference to the fact the Hawks wouldn't be travelling to Sydney for the next match. On Saturday, Ginnivan kicked an early goal before putting his arms out like a plane in a direct reference to Hinkley's taunt. The Port coached cracked a smile in the box and saw the funny side, and won praise for his post-match comments about it. "Payback is deserved," Hinkley admitted. "I have no problems with it and I am OK with it, I think it's good for the game, the theatre of the game. "And good on Jack ... and Hawthorn themselves as a club. I won't be one that sits here and does anything but acknowledge that it was my turn today." Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton said on Fox Footy: 'Well done, Kenny. He's a good man. He's taken that in great spirits. Sometimes you've just got to lick your wounds, don't you? I'm applauding Ken for having a giggle at that. That's like Kenny's just stood up and said 'touché'.' Fellow commentator Dwayne Russell added: 'Brilliant sportsmanship, really, from Kenny there, as the fans (with) a bit of pantomime booing as well when Kenny was shown on the big screen. Ken (is) enjoying it, really, the pantomime villain." "I think it's good for the game, the theatre of the game." 🙌Ken Hinkley was all praise for Jack Ginnivan's goal celebration post-match.#AFLHawksPower — AFL (@AFL) July 19, 2025
Perth Now
7 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Cousins: Why Eagles need another win before season's end
The Melbourne champion is putting on a brave face on the eve of his 200th game. Ben Cousins says celebrating another win before the end of the season would be good for a young West Coast's morale as their 2025 draws towards a close. The Eagles' clash against Richmond at Optus Stadium on Saturday night looms as the best chance for first-year coach Andrew McQualter to avoid an unwanted piece of history. West Coast have only the one win so far this year and while a third wooden spoon is seemingly already locked in, unless they can claim another victory in their remaining six outings they will finish 2025 with the worst home-and-away record in club history. The Eagles will start as $1.65 favourite against the 17th placed Tigers in what could be their final chance to get another win this season with tough games against Fremantle, Melbourne, Adelaide, the Western Bulldogs and Sydney to round out their season. They nearly beat the Tigers in round nine at the MCG, with first-year midfielder Tom Gross run down opponent Tom Brown as he tried to kick what would've been the match-winning goal in the dying stages of the two-point defeat. It has left them with just the 28-point victory over St Kilda the following week for the Eagles to hang their hat on this season. Brownlow medallist Cousins said it was a winnable game for the Eagles and that should be the mindset they take in. 'West Coast are slightly more experienced and with Liam Ryan and Jamie Cripps they have a slight advantage up forward,' he said. 'Hopefully they can square things up in the middle and give their forwards enough opportunity. 'While it doesn't change the context of their season, it's good for morale when players, supporters and the whole club get to celebrate a win especially when they're hard to come by.' Young Eagles midfielder Clay Hall has played in only two wins from the first 10 games of his career but none under McQualter, a milestone he would like to tick off sooner rather than later. 'It would mean a lot. It would definitely boost the morale even though it's quite high at the moment,' he said. 'The energy is quite high at the club which is great. It would be great to get another win for Mini (McQualter), I would love that. 'He's unreal with what he's given us this year. Learning a whole new gamestyle throughout the pre-season isn't the easiest thing but he's put in so much work making it so easy for us. He does it week-in, week-out, providing us information that we need to hopefully try to get the four points each week. 'If we keep doing that a win will come eventually, so when I get my first one with him I'll be very happy about that.' Andrew McQualter, Senior Coach of the Eagles. Credit: Sarah Reed / AFL Photos West Coast have made three changes from the side that lost to Port Adelaide last weekend, recalling midfielder Tim Kelly as well as forwards Liam Ryan and Jack Petruccelle. Third-year midfielder Elijah Hewett has been managed, while Noah Long and Malakai Champion have been omitted.
