"The man to take us forward": Delisted Eagle's glowing endorsement of McQualter

Delisted Eagle Clay Hall has endorsed head coach Andrew McQualter, stating that he is the man that will drag the club up the table despite a difficult start to life out West.

It’s been a difficult week for Clay Hall, who was cut by the West Coast Eagles after just 16 games for the club in three seasons.

However, despite the fact that he won’t be at the Eagles next season, Hall has nothing but praise for head coach McQualter.

Since joining the Eagles ahead of the 2025 AFL season, McQualter has guided his side to just five wins from 46 games, jumping from one single win to four in his second season in charge.

Heading into 2027, the pressure is beginning to mount on ‘Mini’. While few believe that the Eagles will soar up the table, expectations are certainly heightened entering the new year, with improvement an absolute must.

And although the rebuild coach hardly survives, recently delisted Hall believes that McQualter is undoubtedly the man that will drag West Coast out of the bottom four and back into relevancy.

“He is the man who is going to take us forward,” Hall told SEN WA Breakfast.

“He cops a bit of flak throughout the year when we aren’t performing so well. Going through the reviews week in, week out, it’s obviously on us players.

“He is the master behind it all, and he is trying to get us going in a way that you can see throughout stages over the past couple of years. When we do get going, we look like a great team.

“With some of the new draftees we brought in this year and the boys we got in through trade, next year will be a bit of a breakout year for the team and for him personally.

“And I really hope so for him and the boys, because he has gone through a bit over the last couple of years.

“It’s not easy moving your whole family over to WA and then trying to get a team to perform and it’s not working too well.

“But he sticks at it. He wants nothing but the best for us and I’m the exact same for him, so hopefully he can get them going.

“I do think it will be a better year next year.”

Coleman Medallist Scott Cummings believes it’s as strong as an endorsement as one can receive.

“Is there a greater endorsement of a coach than a player who has unfortunately just been delisted singing his praises?” Cummings told SEN WA.

“Nathan Broad was here last week, who didn’t get an opportunity; he was half interested in playing for West Coast, didn’t get an opportunity.

“To both say, ‘Mini is absolutely the man to take the club forward’… ringing endorsements.”

Hall continued: “It was an unfortunate result for me, but I cannot say a bad word about him. He is a ripper.”

West Coast enters 2027 in far healthier shape than years prior.

With the additions of Melbourne duo Jack Viney and Trent Rivers, another year of growth for young stars Harley Reid, Willem Duursma and the likes, alongside the third overall pick in this year’s draft, the Eagles will look to build on their slow improvement.

Listen to Clay Hall's full interview on SEN WA Breakfast below: