Latest news with #McQualter
West Australian
4 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.'
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
McQualter says Eagles are fighting for their careers
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. West Coast defender Tom Cole is out of contract. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian 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. Harley Reid looks to break from a tackle. Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images 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.'
7NEWS
4 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter concedes 20-year-old Harley Reid is ‘carrying' their midfield
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says the entire club is sick of losing, but he doesn't think it will dissuade Harley Reid from sticking around. The Eagles slumped to their eighth consecutive defeat on Saturday night when they imploded in the third quarter on the way to a 49-point loss to fellow strugglers Richmond. West Coast trailed by just nine points at halftime 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. Reid racked up a whopping 20 disposals and six clearances in the first half, but he was restricted to just four possessions in the third quarter after Jack Ross was sent to him as a hard tag. Even Richmond coach Adem Yze said he felt 'sorry for the kid' given Reid, at just 20, is now the No.1 target for opposition taggers. West Coast (1-17) are destined to collect their second wooden spoon in the space of three seasons, and Reid has tasted just six victories in his 38-game career. Reid is contracted until the end of 2026, but the depths of West Coast's despair has raised questions about whether the Victorian will re-sign. McQualter doesn't think West Coast's plight will put Reid off from staying, however. 'I think if you see Harley and the way he's invested, he's absolutely in and he's a competitor,' McQualter said. '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.' Once Reid was tagged on Saturday night, West Coast had no other midfielder stand up. It was a far different scenario last year when Elliot Yeo — who has missed all of this season with an ankle injury — was there to provide Reid with big-bodied support. 'We are aware that we've got a 20-year-old carrying our midfield,' McQualter said. 'It's not an easy position for him. 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.' Reid tallied just seven disposals in the second half, but he managed to kick two goals when he was sent into attack in the last quarter. 'It wasn't too much fun. He didn't like it,' Ross said of his tagging job on Reid. 'Harley had an unbelievable first half ... but I like the challenge. He's a hell of a player. 'He took me to places of the ground I haven't been yet. A great talent.'
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Wooden spoon Eagles bank on Reid to stick around
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says the entire club is sick of losing, but he doesn't think it will dissuade Harley Reid from sticking around. The Eagles slumped to their eighth consecutive defeat on Saturday night when they imploded in the third quarter on the way to a 49-point loss to fellow strugglers Richmond. West Coast trailed by just nine points at halftime 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. Reid racked up a whopping 20 disposals and six clearances in the first half, but he was restricted to just four possessions in the third quarter after Jack Ross was sent to him as a hard tag. Even Richmond coach Adem Yze said he felt "sorry for the kid" given Reid, at just 20, is now the No.1 target for opposition taggers. West Coast (1-17) are destined to collect their second wooden spoon in the space of three seasons, and Reid has tasted just six victories in his 38-game career. Reid is contracted until the end of 2026, but the depths of West Coast's despair has raised questions about whether the Victorian will re-sign. McQualter doesn't think West Coast's plight will put Reid off from staying, however. "I think if you see Harley and the way he's invested, he's absolutely in and he's a competitor," McQualter said. "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." Once Reid was tagged on Saturday night, West Coast had no other midfielder stand up. It was a far different scenario last year when Elliot Yeo - who has missed all of this season with an ankle injury - was there to provide Reid with big-bodied support. "We are aware that we've got a 20-year-old carrying our midfield," McQualter said. "It's not an easy position for him. 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." Reid tallied just seven disposals in the second half, but he managed to kick two goals when he was sent into attack in the last quarter. "It wasn't too much fun. He didn't like it," Ross said of his tagging job on Reid. "Harley had an unbelievable first half ... but I like the challenge. He's a hell of a player. "He took me to places of the ground I haven't been yet. A great talent." West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says the entire club is sick of losing, but he doesn't think it will dissuade Harley Reid from sticking around. The Eagles slumped to their eighth consecutive defeat on Saturday night when they imploded in the third quarter on the way to a 49-point loss to fellow strugglers Richmond. West Coast trailed by just nine points at halftime 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. Reid racked up a whopping 20 disposals and six clearances in the first half, but he was restricted to just four possessions in the third quarter after Jack Ross was sent to him as a hard tag. Even Richmond coach Adem Yze said he felt "sorry for the kid" given Reid, at just 20, is now the No.1 target for opposition taggers. West Coast (1-17) are destined to collect their second wooden spoon in the space of three seasons, and Reid has tasted just six victories in his 38-game career. Reid is contracted until the end of 2026, but the depths of West Coast's despair has raised questions about whether the Victorian will re-sign. McQualter doesn't think West Coast's plight will put Reid off from staying, however. "I think if you see Harley and the way he's invested, he's absolutely in and he's a competitor," McQualter said. "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." Once Reid was tagged on Saturday night, West Coast had no other midfielder stand up. It was a far different scenario last year when Elliot Yeo - who has missed all of this season with an ankle injury - was there to provide Reid with big-bodied support. "We are aware that we've got a 20-year-old carrying our midfield," McQualter said. "It's not an easy position for him. 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." Reid tallied just seven disposals in the second half, but he managed to kick two goals when he was sent into attack in the last quarter. "It wasn't too much fun. He didn't like it," Ross said of his tagging job on Reid. "Harley had an unbelievable first half ... but I like the challenge. He's a hell of a player. "He took me to places of the ground I haven't been yet. A great talent." West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says the entire club is sick of losing, but he doesn't think it will dissuade Harley Reid from sticking around. The Eagles slumped to their eighth consecutive defeat on Saturday night when they imploded in the third quarter on the way to a 49-point loss to fellow strugglers Richmond. West Coast trailed by just nine points at halftime 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. Reid racked up a whopping 20 disposals and six clearances in the first half, but he was restricted to just four possessions in the third quarter after Jack Ross was sent to him as a hard tag. Even Richmond coach Adem Yze said he felt "sorry for the kid" given Reid, at just 20, is now the No.1 target for opposition taggers. West Coast (1-17) are destined to collect their second wooden spoon in the space of three seasons, and Reid has tasted just six victories in his 38-game career. Reid is contracted until the end of 2026, but the depths of West Coast's despair has raised questions about whether the Victorian will re-sign. McQualter doesn't think West Coast's plight will put Reid off from staying, however. "I think if you see Harley and the way he's invested, he's absolutely in and he's a competitor," McQualter said. "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." Once Reid was tagged on Saturday night, West Coast had no other midfielder stand up. It was a far different scenario last year when Elliot Yeo - who has missed all of this season with an ankle injury - was there to provide Reid with big-bodied support. "We are aware that we've got a 20-year-old carrying our midfield," McQualter said. "It's not an easy position for him. 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." Reid tallied just seven disposals in the second half, but he managed to kick two goals when he was sent into attack in the last quarter. "It wasn't too much fun. He didn't like it," Ross said of his tagging job on Reid. "Harley had an unbelievable first half ... but I like the challenge. He's a hell of a player. "He took me to places of the ground I haven't been yet. A great talent."
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Wooden spoon Eagles bank on Reid to stick around
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says the entire club is sick of losing, but he doesn't think it will dissuade Harley Reid from sticking around. The Eagles slumped to their eighth consecutive defeat on Saturday night when they imploded in the third quarter on the way to a 49-point loss to fellow strugglers Richmond. West Coast trailed by just nine points at halftime 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. Reid racked up a whopping 20 disposals and six clearances in the first half, but he was restricted to just four possessions in the third quarter after Jack Ross was sent to him as a hard tag. Even Richmond coach Adem Yze said he felt "sorry for the kid" given Reid, at just 20, is now the No.1 target for opposition taggers. West Coast (1-17) are destined to collect their second wooden spoon in the space of three seasons, and Reid has tasted just six victories in his 38-game career. Reid is contracted until the end of 2026, but the depths of West Coast's despair has raised questions about whether the Victorian will re-sign. McQualter doesn't think West Coast's plight will put Reid off from staying, however. "I think if you see Harley and the way he's invested, he's absolutely in and he's a competitor," McQualter said. "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." Once Reid was tagged on Saturday night, West Coast had no other midfielder stand up. It was a far different scenario last year when Elliot Yeo - who has missed all of this season with an ankle injury - was there to provide Reid with big-bodied support. "We are aware that we've got a 20-year-old carrying our midfield," McQualter said. "It's not an easy position for him. 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." Reid tallied just seven disposals in the second half, but he managed to kick two goals when he was sent into attack in the last quarter. "It wasn't too much fun. He didn't like it," Ross said of his tagging job on Reid. "Harley had an unbelievable first half ... but I like the challenge. He's a hell of a player. "He took me to places of the ground I haven't been yet. A great talent."
