Three time Premiership Captain and AFL Nation Expert, Luke Hodge, joined Tim Gossage to preview the West Coast and Fremantle fixtures ahead of Round 18 in the AFL.
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SEN WA Breakfast
"He won't be lost to football, he's too smart" - Luke Hodge (12/07/2024)
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That's linkedin.com/results. Terms and conditions apply. Linkedin, the place to be, to be. Welcome back to Breakfast, Tim Gossage in the chair solo today. Thanks to Sonos Experience Game Changing Sound this season with Sonos. Been a big week in football in WA, and one man who sort of entered the fray a little bit in almost calling out the West Coast Eagles playing group. Those who are upset with Adam Simpson, well, it's at Luke College, but we won't just talk about that. We also want to talk about the fact is that there are two teams he played for. Hawthorn and Brisbane are both in action against our WA teams. In fact, the West Coast Eagles and Free Metal Football Club. AFL Nation star and also, of course, seven footy expert. How'd you appreciate your time on a Friday morning? No problems, Tim. Thanks, haven't you? It's been a big week over in Western Australia. What's your first thoughts on the departure of Adam Simpson, the way it was handled, and just backing over your comments that you were pretty disappointed with some of the messaging that was coming out of WA. In regards to disgruntled players? It was more the fact that as soon as you have, and for more reports, we'll see your players, I haven't seen the names that have been coming out. But as soon as there's text messages go around, you always know that text messages are going to come out. So if there's people that are going behind their back end and sending messages about Simmer, that they don't have trust in, as a leader of that football club, you should be going and bringing it up with Simmer. You should be having conversations with him about his game style, about anything else, rather than sending text messages. And that's where I was pretty much going out. I can understand there's frustrations in football clubs. And look, normally, if you've been down for a few years, I totally understand at the lines, when I go to you, we'll decide when I've got the whole film. We miss finals for the first few years. There's angst amongst players, because everyone wants to play finals. And I know West Coast have a rich history, and they understand it. If there's a finals or nothing over there, they're so passionate. But I just felt that there's better ways to go about it. And if there are senior players that are pointing the fingers, I know Simmer's not the right man to take his forward. I'd be making sure that you've done everything you possibly can, as a player, as a leader, to make sure you're held up your part of the bargain for the West Coast, there you go. So it's both the coaching staff, but it's also the players that have probably been able to count. But I understand also that football's a business. I understand that the reasons why they made the decision on Simmer, I think when you pen games, since the buy in between 2021. And we will know the expectations from West Coast. They have had a very successful history, and they want to get back up the top. So I understand why they've made the decision. But at the same time, there's always tougher for the coaching in the family. He handled himself extremely well, and has since, he will be making a brief appearance on Sunday to say goodbye to the fans. So he leaves probably free up in his headspace with his family and where to now. You know him. Where do you think he'll end up? Or do you, he's certainly making noises that he doesn't want to be lost to football. So envisage that would mean going to another club in some type of role. Do you think he could be a senior coach again? And which sort of club are you prepared to say could use an Adam Simpson for the moment as a senior assistant coach? First of all, going back to what you said, he handled himself extremely well. I think what he went through towards in the last year where it could have been a similar situation, the board back in last year, so he probably realised that if there wasn't a massive improvement, that this might be what might be coming his way. So you spot on how he handled himself, he tried to make a couple of jokes in the press conference, which sort of come out a little bit awkward whether he was serious or not. I thought it was really good. As far as what his movements are, that's probably more, more for him would be, would be guessing, he won't be lost for football, he's too smart. I was lucky enough to have him as I was, when I was captain at Hawthorne, he was, he was our coach, he was one of our coaches. And the experience that he gave me, the leadership advice, looking at things in a different perspective was always great from Simone. But whether he's a head coach or not, a lot of coaches do come back into that senior role, whether it's a GM, putting that into all that kind of stuff, that could be where he angles, I think as you guys head coach, he said all the decisions you have to make, and get a lot of experience from managing people, and that's what you made of those in GM. Yeah, very true. So in regards to the West Coast Eagles, I mean, all the noise has been about Dean Cox won, and then there's sort of a level playing field behind that, from an outsider looking in without sort of deep diving too far, Hodgey, because you know, you are not in Western Australia, but from your observation of the playing group and where they're at on field and a little bit off field, what sort of coach is needed at West Coast? And do you subscribe to the theory that maybe a senior coach is needed to take these groups through? Or do you think it's now time to get a development coach, i.e. Dean Cox or Jamie Graham from Fremantle and or, of course, Ash Hanson? I guess the way there's so many coaches that are coming through, and I guess all clubs are different with what they need. What West Coast do need at this stage is someone who can handle the development side of things, who's really good with young kids, who's focused on the little small parts early in their career that they're going to develop into really successful players. As you mentioned, Dean Cox, if you look at the Sydney process and what they've been able to do, train up their academy kids, develop guys that haven't probably performed as well at other clubs, to be able to come over to Sydney, believing that the culture bind to the culture. So there's no doubt Coxy would be one of the first of the young interview. You've also got boys like Nathan Buckley, who has been through a lot at Collinwood coaching them to a grandfather, which obviously West Coast took the cup off of them. But there's so many people out there, whether they've coached before or had a good apprenticeship as far as an assistant that they've made at West Coast, we're going to see. And then doing this job early with means that they've got enough time that they don't have to rush, and they can speak to all people that might be a possibility for coaching now. Yeah, very true. They're ahead of the game now, aren't they? They're ahead of the clubs that are sort of in sort of limbo with their coaching group, whether it be assistants and/or seniors, whether that be for the one of the better club, Port Adelaide, or Western Bulldogs, or Western Killers, sit with Ross Lyon, where he goes the way they're going. So yeah, I think the card has fallen probably in favor of West Coast, not in favor of Adam Simpson, but either the football club has to move on. And they do move on, because on Sunday, they take on one of your teams, the Brisbane Lions in Dara Joyce, Robinson, Devon Robinson, which is an interesting story. And we've been harping on this all year. He flipped on his decision to come back to WA and join West Coast, and he's barely got a game since at the Lions, but he gets a chance to play against West Coast in WA. So I don't know whether that's going to be a precursor to his future move. Jackson Pryor, of course, whose dad Michael Pryor is currently engaged and works for the West Coast Eagles. He's in the line up. Darcy Fort, of course, provides their rucks back and shadow brain. They lose Jack Payne, which is a real big injury. That's a foot injury. He'll be gone for six weeks, and Brandon Starsevich with, of course, concussion. West Coast, well, they've gone straight into the young kids. This has been the call for many, many a long time for the West Coast Eagles fans. Harry Edwards, Luke Geddwood, Zane True, who's been knocking the door down for a while with his stats in the waffle. Ryan Marrick and Jai Kelly McGovern, he's still on his way back for driving across the Nulliborne Campbell, Chester, has been omitted. What sort of response from the West Coast Eagles? And Brisbane and one of the hot teams in the competition at the moment in regards to wins. Yeah, they are. Brisbane have sort of found their straps, I guess, after a shaking start for the season. But there's always a concern. Whatever team loses a coach, we always know the interim coach has been a fair strike rate of them coming in and having some success. And over the last time, the Brisbane Lions coach was when Carlton changed their coaching. I think Peague coached for the first time and played Brisbane. So there's no doubt. This is the part that when a coach does a skips act, they're going to try kids. And this is the exciting part for the West Coast supporters, all these kids that they've had throughout the draft that have been able to see in the waffle, they finally get their chance to come and show what they can do and try and either put a hand up for another contract, put a hand up for more games towards the end of the year. So it is an exciting part for West Coast and the young staff. But I guess they are coming up against the team who are playing some really good football. So you give West Coast any chance of an upset in Perth on Sunday? Probably only on the interim coach. They bring a little bit of a spark. But let's be honest, if they bring in some more younger guys, and the Lions are pushing for just snuck into the eight for the first time, I think the Lions should win comfortably. But it's all with West Coast at this stage. It's about development. It's about seeing young guys. It's about seeing who's going to put their hand up to try and play for West Coast for next year and the future years. James Sicily, Josh Warden, Cal Shadir return for Hawthorne. Mitch Lewis is next 12 months, or nine months is a bit grim for him. That's a sad news on the back of his return. Jack Gunston, the old fellas, being not making the trip down to Tazoo, or he might make a trip down. He might be sitting on the bench and helping out. And Shamus Mitchell has been omitted. Patrick Voss comes in for Fremantle for the injured Sean Adasi. Huge game. Hawthorne were flat last week after doing a pretty good job over here against West Coast. So a flat against Jelong. Fremantle have been outstanding. They've ate Sydney and they did the job as required over Richmond and they're coming with a bullet. This is probably one of the games around. No doubt. Yeah, I think Hawthorne were flat because of the intensity that Jelong started. They had Tommy Stewart go into the midfield. They had Patty Dangerfield back. Sander Coing has been excellent in the rut for the last three weeks since he's been moved in there. The intensity of the Jelong midfield really shut down Hawthorne. And I think that's what Fremantle need to do. Fremantle's midfield are being exceptionally there. The number one in clearances. I looked at it this week. They've had plus 127 clearances versus their oppo. The next best is Sydney with 48. So I think you look through and go how good has Brio's midfield been. You've got Bratia in there. You've got Storong. And then the mix of Jackson and Darcy. I know Darcy's out this week. But Luke Jackson, when he's playing as a rock, he's been exceptional getting more of the ball and contested possession. So look, Brio's formed, especially since along we were gave a little bit of a clip after their big loss of the ball of this thing to be able to turn around and play on top four. Not too many of those looking at their stats at the moment, I would imagine. But Josh Tracy's been simply outstanding. And isn't it nice? I mean, at the start of the, I mean, two years ago, he was looked like he was could take in the world by storm, but probably wasn't putting in the work on and off the football field. Joy Amos was there key forward and you talked about Luke Jackson if he was forward. But Josh Tracy's now re-stamped himself as one of the key targets. Old-fashioned key targets in the AFL. Yeah, he's a big, he's flopping on the not-first door. We went across there with the draw with Collingwood. And I went and watched the day before the game. And he walked past and he was massive. And you can understand now what we've taken over these big contested marks. And then he didn't know what you need. As a vocal point, you've got Jackson down there as well. When you've got a couple of folks like that, then you've got Amos, who's, it's good to see golf. He is slowly getting back on track of a little bit more momentum. As he kicks through the ball, he looks a lot nicer, but when he got Frederick down there and Young's been able to hit the scoreboard, this is a part that they continue to grow. They're a young team, but that they've looked the goods, ten or four, I can tell you, and with a good mix with that midfielder that's flying at the moment. Last one for you, I'd you appreciate your time. So Sydney have lost two in a row. They're now only two games clear of Carlton in second spot, Fremantle, Essendon, Jollong, Port, and then Brisbane and Johnson and teams outside the eight. Sydney are playing North Melbourne, probably not a bad game for Isaac Haney. He'll be the car in the Brownlow middle after his appeal got turned over last night, unfortunately for him. Sydney's still the team to be in your mind, or are we seeing a shaky Sydney swans over the last couple of weeks? I wouldn't be getting worried too much if I was Sydney. Look, if you still look at it, they had 27 scoring shots against St. Kilda. St. Kilda's normally a very hard team to score because we all know that Ross Lyon, Ferre O'Nell, most of all Ross Lyon's all about the defensive side of things and trying to keep the ball, keep the ground really strangled. They kicked 11 goals, 16 are lost by two points. So if you sort of look at that, Sydney shouldn't be that worried about it. They're coming up against North Melbourne because the last month they've actually been very competitive, but I still think against Sydney who's a very good team, they get there to keep it back in Mills this week, which is a great sign up to being out for a long period of time, but I wouldn't be too worried about keeping it safe. Appreciate your time, Hodgey. Always enjoy our chats, mate. Have a great weekend of footy. Thank you, mate. Have a good weekend. There's Luke Hodge joining us. Of course, AFL nation expert, Channel 7, and of course, Hawthorne champion with a touch of Brisbane. Scotty and Goss, no ash brassle today, flying solo, and thanks to Sonos experience game-changing sound this this season is on us. Look, God's joining us on Fridays, footy, free for all.