West Coast interim coach Jarrad Schofield excited by direction of Eagles as full-time candidates dwindle

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West Coast interim coach Jarrad Schofield excited by direction of Eagles as full-time candidates dwindle

Interim coach Jarrad Schofield says he’s the direction West Coast is heading as potential candidates to take the full-time role keep dropping out.

Schofield is the front-runner to replace Adam Simpson after two wins in five games since the club parted ways with the premiership coach last month.

It comes after several contenders have ruled themselves out of the race including former Eagles Dean Cox, Ash Hansen and Jaymie Graham as well as ex-Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and highly-credentialed assistants Josh Carr and Daniel Giansiracusa.

Former Richmond caretaker coach Andrew McQualter, Greater Western Sydney assistant Brett Montgomery and Western Bulldogs midfield coach Brendon Lade are believed to be still in the race.

Schofield has remained staunch in his message that his focus was on finishing the season at the Eagles before turning his attention to the process of getting the role full-time.

But what he’d seen in the past few weeks had excited him for the future.

“I’ve said when I was endorsed to be the caretaker for the remainder of the season, I was excited. Nothing’s changed with my mindset,” Schofield said.

“I’m loving what I’m doing and focusing on the now. I know it probably sounds cliché but I’m really focusing on week to week and coaching the best I can to help the side be better and be consistent.

“In due course we’ll have those conversations. The club’s got a process to go through and I respect that and understand that.

“What other coaches are doing in terms of their decision that’s not in my control, that’s their control. So, I’m not worrying about that.

“What I am excited about is what we’ve seen over the last ******* of time, what we’ve got for the future. I am excited about where this football club is heading.”

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson said he was surprised that there wasn’t more interest in the role and if he was an assistant he’d jump at the Eagles’ job.

“If I was an assistant coach out there, I’d be jumping at that job,” Clarkson told SEN.

Camera IconJarrad Schofield chats with Oscar Allen. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West ***********

“They’re the best-resourced club in the competition.

“And they’re just going to go up. I’d be grabbing that as quickly as I could if I was an assistant coach out there.”

Schofield is getting the backing of fans after wins over Gold Coast and North Melbourne in the past two games and a victory over a battered and bruise Carlton would only add weight to his cause.

Asked about his popularity, Schofield: “If we lose a few games, will it be any different?

“As I’ve said before and Simmo’s said previously, the support of our members has been fantastic through adversity and through the good times as well.

“They’re always showing strong support to our club and I’m in this position and you feel that support but at the end of the day that’s what good supporters do and we’ve got over 100,000 of them.”

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