3 minute read

The Andrew McQualter era has offically begun at West Coast and the rookie coach has his eyes set on leading the team back up the ladder.

There's a lonely round podium that sits in the foyer at West Coast's headquarters, and new coach Andrew McQualter is determined to fill it with a premiership cup.

McQualter has been handed the reins at West Coast on a three-year deal, and instant success isn't likely to be on the cards.

With the Eagles still in the midst of the biggest rebuild in their history, McQualter's first task will be developing the club's youth and luring as many A-grade players as possible.

Richmond vice-captain Liam Baker is set to join McQualter at West Coast, with another dual premiership Tiger - Jack Graham - to join the Eagles as an unrestricted free agent.

Shai Bolton, who also wants to return to WA, is likely to join Fremantle, but West Coast will do their best to steal him from under the nose of their great rival.

One of the first sights greeting McQualter on arrival at West Coast's base of Mineral Resources Park were the four replica premiership cups representing the club's flags.

They sit on four podiums while a fifth one lies empty, representing the club's yearning for another premiership.

"Let's fill it up," McQualter declared when asked about it.

The 38-year-old - now the AFL's youngest current coach - arrives at West Coast having served an impressive apprenticeship.

McQualter joined Richmond in 2013 as a VFL development coach before serving as an assistant to Damien Hardwick from 2016.

The Tigers went on to win flags in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

McQualter stepped in as interim coach when Hardwick quit midway through last year and guided the Tigers to a 7-6 record before losing out to Adem Yze for the top job. 

An assistant role at Melbourne this season further added to McQualter's resume, and he feels he's ready for a full time spot in the hot seat.

McQualter's time as interim coach at Richmond was particularly eye opening.

"It was a terrific experience that I was able to have," he said. 

"A little bit bittersweet with Damien stepping away mid year, and it's quite a long time, 13 weeks, to be an interim coach.

"But it's something I look back at, and I'm really fortunate to have experienced. 

"I got a bit of a look at the job. I called it one hand on the wheel at the time, but with this job (at West Coast), there'll be two hands, and we'll try and hold on as best we can."

The group of assistants to have worked under Hardwick are fast building a name for themselves.

Craig McRae is now a premiership coach at Collingwood, while Adam Kingsley is working wonders at GWS.

McQualter praised Hardwick, who has just finished up his first season at Gold Coast.

"Dimma (Hardwick) has been enormous in my coaching journey and my journey as a person," McQualter said. 

"I learned a lot from him. 

"Probably the biggest thing I learned is that it's OK to stand up and say, 'I don't have every answer, and I'm more than open to get people to help us figure out the answers'.

"That's probably the greatest thing I learned from that - it's OK to be vulnerable and work through the answers with other people."

McQualter will now assemble a team of assistants, with the future of West Coast interim coach Jarrad Schofield not entirely clear.