West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett expects both he and coach Adam Simpson to be at the club in 2024.
With the Eagles looking destined for the wooden spoon in 2023, the futures of key figures and senior players at the club are in question.
Nisbett joined SEN WA Mornings with Mark Duffield where he was quizzed on whether or not he viewed the likes of himself, Simpson, Tom Barrass and Nic Naitanui remaining at the club.
Below are Nisbett’s answers to some of the burning questions facing the Eagles.
On his own future
“My expectation is that I will be here, whether it’s all of '24 or part of '24, only time will tell,” Nisbett said on SEN WA Breakfast.
“But certainly I haven’t asked for an extension and I won’t be asking for an extension of contract. The steps for us are to sit down as a Board at the end of the year and work through what’s in the best interests of the football club.
“That will happen pretty quickly I would think, post-season. We’ve got three games to go, the Board will get together and start to talk about what do we do. We’ve certainly got a couple of people on our executive team who may be interested also in the role. We’ve got some long-termers here who have done a really good job and there’s likely to be one or two put their hand up.
“Then if the club wants to, they’ll look externally and that will be up to the Board.”
On coach Adam Simpson
“I do (see him at the club in 2024) Mark, yes.
“It's been a really difficult year for Adam as well.
“I mean, we've introduced so many teenagers into our playing group along with a couple of 20-year-olds and they're starting to show glimpses of form on a consistent basis.
“Some of our senior players are playing reasonably good footy, albeit, you know, we've still only won the two games and that's inadequate for what we're after.
“But having said that it has been a really difficult set of circumstances that Adam's been working under for two seasons with so many injuries and obviously we have to concentrate on that, but we have to concentrate on getting the team right.
“With a couple of retirements, it means that other people will have to step up into greater leadership roles.
“We're really looking forward to that because we think people will develop once that happens.”
On the future of reported Sydney trade target Tom Barrass
“Well, Tom's always indicated that he's staying.
“He signed a long-term contract 18 months ago.
“So, his intent was very clear then and it's still very clear now.
“Yes, other clubs can come at players and offer whatever they like.
“But I mean, in the end, if a guy has a contract, it is up to the club.
“Certainly, Tom understands that, but it's also his will to continue to develop this young group.
“He's a big part of that development and leadership and consequently, we're really positive he'll be with us next year.”
On veterans Andrew Gaff and Nic Naitanui
“I’m sure Nic will be weighing it (whether he can come back from his Achilles injury) up now.
“I just don't think we can push him any further other than he's had the operation and now he'll have to make his own mind up.
“I'm sure he's weighing up his future as we speak because it's a long, long journey back and he knows that.
“I would be hopeful that he'd get himself right and be available to play, but it's really in his court as it was with (recent retirees) Shannon (Hurn) and Luke (Shuey).
“Andrew will certainly play on next year and we will have Jeremy McGovern here, Tom Barrass as we've spoken, Elliot Yeo will be here, Dom Sheed … got enough senior players … Jack Darling, Tim Kelly I missed … Jamie Cripps.
“With Oscar Allen and Liam Duggan coming through and Tom Cole, Jayden Hunt has been a great addition to us.
“There are some really good senior players around this group to assist the younger guys coming through.
“There's some terrific players and leaders and we need the younger players to gel with them to get a successful group of players together for next season.
“Obviously we have to keep improving and we're positive we can with the number of games we've been getting into our younger players this year.”
Listen to Nisbett’s full chat with Mark Duffield below.