Simpson right for Eagles

West Coast coach Adam Simpson has been endorsed by mentor Neale Daniher as the man to lead the Eagles back into the finals and to their fourth AFL premiership.

Daniher, who has left the club to move back to Melbourne as he continues his fight against motor neurone disease, worked closely this year with Simpson through a formal and informal program and also with what was a new and inexperienced coaching group around him.

He described the role as "a sounding board and a mentor" and said chiefly among Simpson's strengths was his innate ability to relate to his players and to get them to believe in his game style.

The team's vastly improved performances towards the end of this season were testament to that.

Asked whether he rated the former North Melbourne captain as the man to take the Eagles to the top of the AFL, Daniher's answer was emphatic.

"I would have thought so," he said.

"He's only a young coach and he learnt a lot this year. I think West Coast supporters can look forward to a successful period under Simmo.

"West Coast have got another long-term coach."

Daniher, an Essendon great whose career was cruelly cut short by a knee injury, also said current Bombers coach James Hird faced a tough task to continue his role at the club.

Daniher was an assistant coach with the 1993 premiership side which became known as the Baby Bombers, including Hird.

"It's going to be difficult for him," he said. "He seems determined to want to commit and continue and I think it's going to be difficult on a lot of levels."

Daniher, who coached Melbourne for 10 seasons from 1998-2007, had been appalled at how the supplements scandal that put Hird's position in jeopardy had played out.

"It's been a disaster on all levels, really," he said.

"It's been a disaster for the players, for the fans, for the club and for the coaches involved. There hasn't been any winners and it hasn't been great for the game. I feel for everyone at my old football club.

"But the game will bounce back and the club will bounce back."

Daniher described Mark Harvey, whose return to Essendon as an assistant coach was ann- ounced this week, as a talented coach who still had a lot to offer the game and said he would be a valuable addition to the club.

He was also optimistic that lessons would be learnt from the off-season dismissals of three coaches, Gold Coast's Guy McKenna, Adelaide's Brenton Sanderson and Western Bulldogs' Brendan McCartney.

"Don't rush, don't be in a hurry because it's a very challenging role," Daniher said.

"Clubs need to realise that there is no perfect coach and they need to work with and develop their coaches. There are 18 clubs all aspiring and spruiking that they're going to win a flag and only one can win it."

·West Coast yesterday de-listed defenders Blayne Wilson and Adam Carter.

Wilson, drafted in 2011, played nine games, while Carter made seven appearances after being drafted in 2012.

They join Jacob Brennan and Ashley Smith as casualties in the off-season list review.

"I think West Coast supporters can look forward to a successful period under Simmo."" *Neale Daniher *