WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson has revealed how a half-time rev-up and vision-watching session with forwards coach Jaymie Graham acted as the spark for Jack Darling to turnaround what looked like being another disappointing Grand Final performance.
Speaking on the AFL Coaches' Association's A Conversation with an AFL Coach podcast, Simpson said he was not alone in asking questions about why Darling had gathered just three disposals to the main break against Collingwood.
With the Magpies leading by 12 points at half-time of the 2018 Grand Final, the Eagles needed someone to stand up and Darling did just that, consigning his 2015 decider gremlins – which included that infamous dropped mark against Hawthorn – to the past.
"This is where coaching's changed. At half-time I said what's going on with Jack to Jaymie Graham, our forward line coach, and he said 'I'm on it, I'm on it, I'm on it'," Simpson said.
"Jaymie's showing him vision and he's doing all that, that one-on-one sort of coaching.
"So, when I see Jack I'm going, 'Mate, you're so close to ripping this game apart, you're going really well'.
"I'm the 'sugar', whereas back in the day it was the senior coach who would give the player a clip and the assistant coach … he'd be the shoulder to cry on."
The 'good cop, bad cop approach' was a success as Darling gathered five disposals, hauled in five marks and nailed one major in the third term as the Eagles levelled the scores at 8.7 apiece at the final change.
The Eagles, of course, claimed a thrilling premiership victory when Dom Sheed nailed a clutch set-shot goal with just minutes remaining in a see-sawing contest in front of 100,022 supporters at the MCG.
"I'm more about (players seeing) the best version of themselves and our line coaches know the preparation and game day focuses and all the little things the senior coach doesn't get to do," Simpson said.
"That's what happened at half-time and he (Darling) had a sensational third quarter that helped us win the game obviously."
Click here to listen to the full podcast with the Eagles' premiership coach
