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AFL fans react as John Worsfold makes sensational return in new West Coast Eagles role

The Eagles have bolstered support around new coach Andrew McQualter with the appointment of premiership hero Worsfold.

ben talintyre
Sports Reporter
·4-min read

West Coast have further bolstered their off-field support around new head coach Andrew McQualter by appointing a familiar face in premiership hero John Worsfold as the club's new head of football. Worsfold is the latest former club great to return to the Eagles and he will oversee the club's AFL, AFLW and WAFL programs.

The 56-year-old captained West Coast to two flags during his 209-game career before coaching the club to the 2006 flag during his 12 years in charge. He stepped down as Eagles coach at the end of 2013, before coaching Essendon from 2016-2020, helping the Bombers through their supplements saga.

Pictured John Worsfold
West Coast has further bolstered its off-field support around Andrew McQualter by appointing premiership hero John Worsfold as the club's new head of football. Image: Getty

Since then, Worsfold has spent the past four years as general manager of people and culture at the ASX-listed Emeco Group. His appointment is a significant one as it addresses multiple off-field areas, with the premiership-winning coach overseeing coaching structure and development, performance and culture.

"I am excited to be back at the West Coast Eagles as the club strives to progress into the next era of on-field success across all competitions," Worsfold said in a statement on Tuesday. "I have been fortunate to learn a lot in my time and role at Emeco group that has added to my AFL leadership experience. It will be an exciting period to work with some outstanding leaders across all competitions."

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 23: Eagles coach John Worsfold looks on after being defeated during the round one AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles at Patersons Stadium on March 23, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
John Worsfold captained West Coast to two flags during his 209-game career before coaching the club to the 2006 flag during his 12 years in charge. Image: Getty

It is the latest of seceral off-field changes at the club in the last 12 months. In July, premiership coach Adam Simpson stepped down on the back of two-and-a-half years of poor results, with former Richmond assistant McQualter named as his replacement on a three-year deal last month. While Don Pyke was appointed the club's new chief executive at the end of last year, replacing long-serving administrator Trevor Nisbett. And last month, Elizabeth Gaines was voted in as West Coast's first female chair, replacing the departing Paul Fitzpatrick.

West Coast, who are in the midst of the biggest rebuild in the club's history, also have a new fitness boss and list manager, while Oscar Allen and Liam Duggan have just completed their first season as joint captains. The addition of Worsfold complements the current football department structure and his West Coast appointment has been well received by Eagles fans.

McQualter has been handed the reins at West Coast, and while instant success isn't likely to be on the cards he is eager to form a formidable team on and off the field. McQualter's first task is to develop the club's youth stocks and lure as many A-grade players to the club as possible and he has got off to a strong start on that front.

Richmond vice-captain Liam Baker is set to join McQualter at West Coast, with another dual premiership Tiger - Jack Graham - to join the Eagles as an unrestricted free agent. Shai Bolton, who also wants to return to WA, is likely to join Fremantle, but West Coast will do their best to steal him from under the nose of their great rival.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 28: Richmond interim coach, Andrew McQualter works out match ups during the round 11 AFL match between Richmond Tigers and Yartapuulti / Port Adelaide Power at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on May 28, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Andrew McQualter has been tasked with the biggest rebuild in West Coast history. Image: Getty

McQualter knows what it takes to win a flag despite being the AFL's youngest coach, as he worked as an assistant to Damien Hardwick from 2016 as the Tigers went on to win flags in 2017, 2019 and 2020. McQualter stepped in as interim coach when Hardwick quit midway through last year and guided the Tigers to a 7-6 record before losing out to Adem Yze for the top job.

And of all the lessons he learned from the great AFL mentor, McQualter says the most important one is to be okay with not knowing everything. "Dimma (Hardwick) has been enormous in my coaching journey and my journey as a person," McQualter said. "I learned a lot from him. Probably the biggest thing I learned is that it's OK to stand up and say, 'I don't have every answer, and I'm more than open to getting people to help us figure out the answers'.

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"That's probably the greatest thing I learned from that - it's OK to be vulnerable and work through the answers with other people." McQualter will now continue to assemble a team of assistants, with the future of West Coast interim coach Jarrad Schofield not entirely clear.

with AAP