Former AFL champion Garry Lyon has unleashed on West Coast after a dire five-point defeat to last year’s wooden spooners North Melbourne, labelling them the “Rest Coast Eagles” and putting Adam Simpson firmly in the crosshairs.
The Eagles mounted a second-half comeback against North Melbourne on Saturday but were left wanting after a dreadful second-term lapse left them in the lurch at Marvel Stadium.
The disappointing defeat comes off the back of their worst campaign in history with just two wins in 2022, only saved from the wooden spoon by the dismal Kangaroos, and leaves them bearing down on their first-ever double-digit losing streak after dropping nine straight games.
And despite an optimistic feel to the club after recruiting well in the draft to inject some youth into the fourth-oldest list in the league, the same old Eagles appeared in round one.
“They’re inoffensive, they play an outdated style of footy, they’re bland, and they’re only really good at one thing right now, and that’s losing,” Lyon said on The Couch.
“That’s an indictment on that footy club.”
West Coast were smashed in contested possessions by the young Roos, having 37 fewer – a stat they have been rock bottom for across the past five seasons.
They also allowed 18-year-old debutant Harry Sheezel to amass a game-high 34 disposals.
“You’ve had six months to do something about it,” Lyon said.
“This is a West Coast Eagles brand that is being damaged.
“I respect that West Coast Eagles footy side, love what they did in a short period of time, they stood for something, and they flexed themselves.
“(But) they came and played a North Melbourne team who stuck it to them, and there was hardly a flag raised.”
The Eagles are the only club in history not to sack their coach after a two-win or less season, but Lyon believes the club’s patience with Simpson is on a thin edge.
“There is no doubt (his job) is on the line,” he said.
Former star Brisbane forward Jonathan Brown turned his criticism on the club’s veterans.
“They have senior players who don’t play with vigour any more,” he said.
“So whether they just rest on their laurels, that is the perception I have from the outside.”
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