Embattled West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson has hit back at speculation of his axing, confirming it's not in his "nature to quit", backing himself to lead the Eagles through their rebuild.
"If I didn't want to go through this, I would have pulled the pin a couple of years ago. So it's not really my nature to quit," Simpson said on Friday.
Simpson's defence of his job comes after questions were raised regarding his coaching prowess, after the Eagles suffered a 101 point demolition at the hand of rivals Fremantle.
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"I told you that two years ago, I signed on for this. I knew this was coming. So it's all part of it," Simpson said.
"(But) I totally understand that there may be questions asked (about my future) because of the opposition."
Simpson said his fate is up to the Eagles board, despite being contracted until the end of the 2025 season.
"I do understand that decisions are made and changes happen sometimes. I'm not in despair. I'm not angry. There's no split," he said.
"I'm not stamping my feet, but getting some clarity around that is what I'm looking for."
But the 2018 premiership coach did confirm he has been in talks about the 2024 season and how the club plans to attack it.
"We had a two-and-a-half hour meeting on list management two nights ago. So nothing's changed in that space," Simpson said.
"But once we get clarity about the future, then you know, we can double down or we can we can pull back a bit.
"Two years ago I signed on for four years. I'm staying the course."
Yet some experts, including ex Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, aren't convinced Simpson will be saved by the Eagles board.
McGuire believes the West Coast Eagles are on the brink of axing Simpson, after the side's "total humiliation" against Fremantle.
"… I can tell you that the board is contemplating whether to sack Adam Simpson," McGuire said on Nine's Footy Classified on Wednesday night.
"That is the situation. Things seemed to be going along alright after the Essendon game, they thought everything was hanging together, but the total humiliation of what happened on the weekend against the Fremantle Dockers has now got this before the board."
Despite the outside noise, Simpson's recommitment comes after the club signed young midfielders Reuben Ginbey and Elijah Hewett until the end of the 2026 season.
The Eagles now face the Bulldogs and Adelaide in hopes they can finish their season off positively.
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