Anyone with more than a passing interest in the West Coast Eagles knows the last few years have been challenging. The focus now is progressing each of our three teams up the premiership ladder and that process is well and truly under way.

I would like to begin by thanking our members and staff for their tremendous support during the year, highlighted by some great performances by our men’s and women’s teams and by the steady progress shown by our younger players. 

However, being entrenched in the bottom portion of the premiership ladder for the last three years, and for our AFL team to win only five games this season, was deeply disappointing.

There have been many changes at the club over the past 12 months as we strive to put in place the right structures to underpin our next successful era.

Some of those changes have happened by design and some have happened organically, with possibly the biggest decision being the parting of ways with senior coach Adam Simpson.  A much-loved figure and premiership coach, Simmo and the club decided with seven games remaining that it was best for all concerned to take a different course.

Adam’s exit was dignified and the appreciation shown by our members to him at the commencement of the Round 18 game against Brisbane was thoroughly deserved.  Adam guided the club to a premiership in 2018 and a period of sustained success between 2014 and 2021 to be one of our club’s most successful coaches.

Jarrad Schofield was appointed interim coach for the last seven games. He did a good job, guiding the club to two more wins, but the club had committed to an extensive search for a new coach and after a thorough process appointed Andrew “Mini” McQualter as its seventh senior coach.

When you consider the club is 38 seasons into its existence that is an extraordinary situation. The appointment of McQualter, two days after Brisbane won the premiership, was the most crucial decision, but there were others.

Obviously, the arrival of Don Pyke as CEO in January, succeeding another of the club’s wonderful contributors Trevor Nisbett, was highly significant too.

So is the return of John Worsfold as Head of Football where he will support each of the football managers across all the club’s programs – Gavin Bell (AFL), Steve Trewhella (WAFL) and Michelle Cowan (AFLW).

That is an indication that the club felt the need to ramp up its support around each of the teams that represent it. We need to improve across the board and having someone of John’s expertise available to oversee coach and player development is both timely and poignant.

I would also like to welcome our new head of development, Jamie Maddocks who comes to us with vast experience as a player and coach in South Australia and Victoria.

There have been other changes both in the revamped football department and in other areas of the club’s operations, including the departure of some senior executives and staff.

There has also been some player movement after an interesting trade and free agency period, followed by the National Draft, and we believe we are in good shape to make a serious impression on the competition.

Like a number of others, it is also my time to step aside, having served the maximum nine-year term on the Board, the last two as chairman.

While that will draw the curtain on any official involvement with the club, I will be as enthusiastic as every other club member on the terraces supporting our drive back towards finals contention in all competitions.

I have enjoyed every moment of my time on the Board, even the testing circumstances in the last couple of seasons as we remained focused on finding a way forward.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the directors, past and present, that I have worked alongside, but particularly the current group who have provided unparalleled support.

Our club is incredibly fortunate to have someone of Elizabeth Gaines’ vast experience and expertise available to become the next Chair of this great club. She has been a wonderful contributor already and it has been a comfort to have her in our corner during challenging times. 

Rowan Jones, who steps into the role of Deputy Chair, is well known to the Eagles faithful as a 2006 premiership player and his football expertise has been invaluable as we have attracted key players and staff into the programs.

Terry Bowen, Justin Langer, Ben Wyatt, Nicole Moody and Jan Cooper also provide broad and varying experiences which contributes to robust and productive discussions in the Board room.

That is largely responsible for our consistently strong and supportive membership base that topped the 100,000 (104,000) mark for the fifth year in succession. I would like to thank all of those members and our 800,000-strong fan base for their dedicated support.

I know at times your commitment to the club has been tested, but your resilience and resolve to stick with us has been an inspiration. That unwavering faith will be rewarded in the shortest possible time frame. 

We have seen the strong progress of the AFLW program under the direction of Daisy Pearce and we expect our AFL and WAFL teams will mirror that upward trajectory in coming seasons.

From a community perspective, the club delivered over 110,000 engagements on football ovals, in classrooms and hospitals across all corners of the State, including in the Pilbara, Kimberley, Western Desert, Goldfields and Great Southern.

These engagements drive our aspiration of being the most community connected sporting club in the nation and they are also designed to deliver social impact by making a positive difference in participants’ lives.

This year we grew our bond with Telethon, together we gave disadvantaged children and their families reason to smile by including them in our match days, on our team charter flights away and through inner sanctum experiences at Mineral Resources Park.

We continued to actively collaborate with the Waalitj Foundation and JK Foundation, together supporting youth to understand how the decisions they make today influence their lives tomorrow.

Our regional staff further strengthened our connection to regional members and grew new ones through initiatives such as Game Day watch parties, toddler motor skill programs and hosting Walking Football games for seniors.

Our financial contribution to the West Australian Football Commission of about $60m since 2000 is staggering and has underpinned the development of football in this state. There is so much that our club does to be proud about, which is a great credit to our hardworking players, coaches and staff, both past and present. I would like to thank them all for their efforts.

Finally, I would like to thank my wife Nikki for all of her support over the last nine years I have served on the Board. I could not have done it without her and I’m incredibly lucky to have her by my side.

Paul Fitzpatrick
Chair