West Coast is chasing Brisbane footy boss Danny Daly to be its new football director and head of coaching, while Melbourne assistant Andrew McQualter is a key contender to be the Eagles’ next senior coach.
The Herald Sun’s Jay Clark on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle expanded on his report surrounding West Coast’s plans, with McQualter’s relationships at Richmond to potentially help the Eagles land their trade and free agent targets.
Daly, who the Eagles were originally targeted for their coaching vacancy, has been at Brisbane since 2020 serving as Chris Fagan’s right-hand man.
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A highly-experienced footy person, Daly appeals to West Coast to help guide a first-time coach. The 58-year old has parked all conversations with the Eagles until the end of Brisbane’s finals campaign.
“The Eagles want him essentially to be a footy director and head of coaching to sit above the footy manager and above the new coach. In all likelihood, they’re going to appoint a very young, inexperienced senior coach,” Clark said on Midweek Tackle.
Meanwhile McQualter, 38, who served as Richmond’s caretaker coach last year following Damien Hardwick’s departure before moving to Melbourne as an assistant, is also in the Eagles’ sights.
Clark noted Geelong assistant Steven King “does have strong support,” while Western Bulldogs’ Brendon Lade and GWS’ assistant Brett Montgomery are other coaching contender for West Coast.
But Clark thinks McQualter is “the intriguing one” given his links to out-of-contract Tigers Liam Baker and Jack Graham, who West Coast is trying to lure.
“The Eagles are chasing Richmond players McQualter knows very well — Liam Baker and Jack Graham are very tight with McQualter,” Clark said.
“If McQualter gets the West Coast job, it could be a defining thing which helps get Baker and Graham over the line at West Coast.
“There’s a bit to play out over the next couple of weeks, interesting sliding doors for Richmond, who overlooked McQualter for Adem Yze this time last year.”
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Clark said McQualter, who led the Tigers to a 7-6 record last year, was in the “Craig McRae mould” for his ability to form strong relationships.
West Coast is reportedly confident it’ll appoint its coach before next month’s trade period, which would ensure its off-season moves aren’t compromised.
Herald Sun colleague Scott Gullan believes McQualter was “unlucky” to miss out on the Richmond gig and believes he’s the deserving frontrunner at West Coast after the likes of Dean Cox and Ash Hansen pulled out of the running.
Meanwhile fellow Herald Sun reporter Glenn Mcfarlane highlighted that former Tigers skippers Trent Cotchin was a big endorser of McQualter.
“It was Cotchin’s decision essentially to make McQualter the interim coach when Damien Hardwick left, pretty much a captain’s call, you had Ben Rutten and David Teague there too,” Mcfarlane said on Midweek Tackle.
“‘Cotchin thought McQualter was the right man and he was the right fit for a group coming through with some older and younger players.
“Cotchin always said McQualter will be a coach again very soon.”
EAGLES CANDIDATES
Football director
Danny Daly (Lions footy boss)
Senior coach
Andrew McQualter (Demons assistant)
Jarrad Schofield (interim Eagles coach)
Brendon Lade (Bulldogs assistant)
Brent Montgomery (Giants assistant)
Steven King (Cats assistant)
Source Agencies
