AS I sit down to attempt this column at the end of an enjoyable weekend, my phone rings and I know what’s coming.

Luke Shuey is on the other end of the line, coaxing me to come out for a frosty beer with the boys. Goodness me I used to enjoy end of season festivities. But now that I have a ‘job’ to get up to on Monday morning, I’ve had to reject Luke’s offer; one that I had hoped would not be coming my way for another two weeks.

Geez, isn’t a week a long time in footy?

After all the emotion and excitement of last week’s thrilling finish, it was a crash landing on Saturday evening, with my beloved Eagles going down to the Giants by 67 points.

The orange tsunami hit and, boy did they hit hard. The boys battled away, but the depth, skill, and speed of the Giants simply couldn’t be matched.

And so begins the many columns debating if the club’s 2017 season can be deemed a ‘success’, ‘pass’, or ‘failure’.

I don’t subscribe to ‘pass’ marks at the conclusion of any season. You either win the premiership, or you are amongst the losers who have missed another opportunity.

Obviously there are highs and lows in any season, and West Coast have had several: the goal after the siren against Port Adelaide, 'Yeoy' (Elliot Yeo) elevating his game to All-Australian standard, Josh Kennedy again being the dominate forward of the competition, and future stars Tom Barrass, Liam Duggan and Dom Sheed gaining more experience.

But I think if you spoke with the leaders and coaches of the football club, they would be disappointed. Their ambitions would have matched those of supporters like myself – they’d have been aiming far higher than bowing out in a semi-final.

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Living and playing in a two-team town, I learnt quickly about the ambitions and expectations of supporters and the media. The papers and nightly news need to be filled, and football is always on the menu.

This can be dangerous for both players and coaches - when you’re in form, you are the absolute best in the league!

The flipside of course, is that when you are underperforming, you should be sacked. There is no grey area.

Prior to moving to Perth, I was told by a prominent figure in the AFL community that Western Australians can eat their own very quickly - and boy, did that become clear to me this year.

My first column was due immediately post round 20, after West Coast’s loss to the Saints over east. As a first-time columnist, I was extremely hesitant to touch on the trending topic at that time, which was of course the public debate on Adam Simpson’s future as head coach of the Eagles.

At the time, I resisted the urge to defend 'Simmo', simply because he didn’t need me to justify his position. Don’t quote me on this, but I’m pretty sure at the time, he had the third best winning record over the past three seasons.

A statement that will shock nobody: I am a big fan of Adam Simpson.

Not because the man threw me the lifeline that extended my career by a further three years, because irrespective of said career re-ignition, it is Simmo’s character that I really admire.

Simmo started at the Hawthorn Football Club in 2010, freshly retired from 306 games, two premierships and a stint as captain. As a playing list, we were instantly drawn to him, determined to find out the secrets to his success, and learn from his experiences.

Camera Icon Xavier Ellis after the Eagles' 2015 grand final loss. Credit: PerthNow,

But it was the speech Simmo delivered to the group on arrival that I believe was far more impressive than the goals he’d kicked, or the games he’d played.

Simmo was unashamed and forthright as he outlined his personal morals and values; he revealed what makes him tick, and the importance he placed on family, relationships, respect, care, and mateship.

Conversely, he also let us in on a secret from his playing days that he had not been afraid to apply some ‘Just for Men’ to hide the oncoming greys…casting my eyes over his current mop, I don’t think the dye has been touched for several years.

It seems to me that some people believe Simmo inherited a premiership side when he walked through the club’s doors in 2014. This could not be further from the truth. Plain and simple - the Eagles weren’t great when Simmo arrived.

However, Simmo took everything in stride. One thing I’ve always admired about him - as both a coach and opponent - is his composure. His ability to always appear in control, regardless of the situation, is incredible.

I hate hearing complaints that Simmo doesn’t show enough emotion on game day. If you want to see someone jumping around in a box, I recommend heading to the zoo and visiting the monkey exhibit instead of watching the footy.

As a player, you need your coach to remain calm and collected. If your coach doesn’t get flustered, it is far more likely that the players will remain composed and focused.

But calm public demeanour aside, there is a side to Simmo’s coaching repertoire which may surprise a few - and that is the exceptional way he disciplines the playing group.

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When a bake is deserved, Simmo does not miss - and more often than not, it is the worst kind of spray, because it is honest, direct and controlled.

One of the more memorable dressing downs I received was in a post-match team meeting, following a loss to Geelong in 2014. My performance had been sub-par, playing loose in the backline – rather poorly.

Simmo turned to me in the meeting and informed me that I had played like “the poor man’s version” of an unnamed, underperforming opposition player. I won’t name names, but the comparison stung.

To be singled out in front of my teammates hurt, but it was justified. I was also embarrassed that I’d let Simmo down – his disappointment always hurt more than any expression of anger or rage.

The comments that surfaced during the year questioning Simmo’s performance and future at the club are poorly informed, and lack basis in fact.

Simmo is not just a great coach, but he is a great man, at the helm of a great club.

The Eagles were simply beaten by a better team on the weekend - a team who I believe are destined to take home the 2017 AFL Premiership. There is no shame in that, and I know that Simmo and the boys will have a fire in their bellies come season 2018.

What next season has instore for us all is why I love the game – nothing is certain, and the game is always unpredictable. The only thing I know to be true is that Nic Nat will be back, and I’m already counting down the days to Round 1!