Pyke text rumours debunked as Buckley AGAIN plays down West Coast interest

West Coast CEO Don Pyke was reportedly texting interim coach Jarrad Schofield during the team’s recent loss to Carlton.

According to information obtained by 6PR’s Brad Hardie, the Eagles chief executive was sending messages to Schofield as the caretaker went about overseeing his side against the Blues at Optus Stadium in Round 23.

Brownlow Medallist Hardie couldn’t believe his ears when he was informed of Pyke’s apparent interference.

“My understanding is he was in the Carlton game last week texting Jarrad Schofield and the coaching staff in the box, ‘are you aware of this?’, ‘are you watching this trend?’,” Hardie said.

“Seriously! You’re the CEO, Don. You’re not the coach. If you want to be the coach, take the CEO hat off and apply for the coach’s job.

“Yeah, I get it, you want to help. Well, help on Monday, ‘Hey Jarrad, can I see you at 7:30? Let’s go to the local cafe and have a chat. Did you realise this in the game? Did you see these trends?’, all that sort of stuff.

“You don’t text the coach in the middle of the game giving your thoughts on what you think they should be doing if you’re the CEO. Spare me.”

Hardie added: “I’m deadly serious.

“It’s been confided to me that he was texting Jarrad Schofield in the box as the Carlton game went on.

“I get it, he’s got experience as a coach. There’s a great football pedigree in Don Pyke. But you don’t do that on game day.”

SEN Breakfast’s Kane Cornes and Nathan Buckley reacted to those comments, with the latter suggesting it would be highly unlikely given coaches never take their phones into the box with them.

Buckley debunked the Pyke text rumours by indicating that perhaps the story had been embellished.

Cornes: “You’re shaking your head as you’re listening to that audio.”

Buckley: “If Jarrad Schofield had his phone on him, he’s the only coach that’s ever taken his phone into the coaching box.

“Are we deadset serious? We sit here and we listen to what people say and are we that gullible that we’re going to accept it all?”

Cornes: “So is that the media being the media?”

Buckley: “I’m going to have to be the voice of reason here.”

That conversation pre-empted a question from Cornes towards Buckley regarding the West Coach coaching job.

The former Collingwood coach has been linked to the Eagles vacancy in recent times but has already ruled himself out of the race, and did so again when quizzed by Cornes.

“I have a lot of contacts in Perth and apparently your name was the topic of conversation at Optus Stadium (on Sunday),” said Cornes.

“Right back in the hunt for the West Coast Eagles coaching job.

“Will you take another call from Don Pyke? Yes or no?”

Buckley: “There’s nothing more to add.

“My circumstances have not changed.”

Cornes: “Are you out or not?

“That’s a little door ajar. That’s not definitive to me.”

Buckley: “I’ve already had the conversation with ‘Pykey’.

“I’m not going to give you what you want, Kane.

“You’re being obtuse.”

Cornes: “I will take that as you’re still in the hunt.”

Buckley: “Well, you can taker it however you want. My position has not changed.

“I’m not going back to the well and answering the same question over and over and over just to satisfy you.”

Cornes: “Circumstances change. It’s two words, ‘I’m out’.”

Buckley: “I’m not going to give you what you want.”

The Eagles will continue their search for Adam Simpson’s long-term replacement in the wake of the home and away season wrapping up on the weekend.

Schofield remains a candidate after guiding the Eagles to two wins from six matches, but back-to-back losses by 65 points to the Blues and 93 points to Geelong may have harmed his chances.