How many rival players Simmo pitched in-season as coach
Adam Simpson has revealed he met an estimated 50 rival players in-season in an effort to recruit them while coach of West Coast, saying the practice was commonplace but had now become more overt.
It came amid comments from Simpson’s former western derby foe Ross Lyon that the “gloves are off” in the recruiting war, with an NRL-style transparency for players announcing their intentions on the horizon.
The issue of player recruitment has been prominent in AFL circles over the past fortnight, with The West Australian’s exclusive image of Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell sitting alongside Eagles star Harley Reid at Tom Barrass’ wedding making national headlines.