IF WEST Coast had not hired Adam Simpson to replace John Worsfold, it is possible he could have been coaching Hawthorn against the Eagles this week.
As it stands, Alastair Clarkson's former assistant will coach against a former colleague in Brendon Bolton, as their mentor recovers from Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Simpson was long regarded as a senior coach in waiting during his four years as an assistant at Hawthorn and could quite conceivably have been chosen as Clarkson's caretaker if he was still at the club.
But Simpson thinks otherwise.
"I reckon Bolts would still have got the job," Simpson said.
The Eagles' coach acquired plenty of intelligence on the Hawks during a very successful four years there as the stoppage coach. The club made four finals series and two Grand Finals during that time culminating in the 2013 premiership.
"There's not too many weaknesses to be honest," Simpson said.
"They're a pretty rounded side. At the moment they're well and truly the best score from stoppages team in the competition. They've been a bit off the last week or two but it's a real strength of theirs.
"Hawthorn are probably the best at making you pay if you don't work hard to get the ball back.
"They can control the ball really well, and they can go quick as well.
"Offensively they are highly regarded. But when I was there, defensively they were also top four. Their numbers stack up pretty well everywhere."
He hasn't seen anything distinctly different about Hawthorn's style this season and does not think the exit of Lance Franklin has changed the Hawks' dynamics too much.
"I think their three key forwards in (Jack) Gunston, (Luke) Breust, and (Jarryd) Roughead at the moment, without (Cyril) Rioli, they're three very damaging A-grade players," Simpson said.
Rioli's inclusion on Thursday night may cause Simpson an extra headache. Jordan Lewis also returns for the Hawks but they have lost David Hale to a corked quad.
Simpson made just three changes at selection, with two of them forced. Josh Kennedy misses with a fractured cheekbone and Brad Sheppard has not recovered from corked buttock. Josh Hill has been omitted after just one touch as the substitute last week.
There is still some doubt over Xavier Ellis who was subbed out against North Melbourne with a corked hamstring. He will be given right up until game time to prove his fitness.
Simpson resisted the urge to swing the axe after last Sunday's loss but has put a couple of players on notice.
"I think this is the first week where we didn't turn up with our intent and hunt and I have given a couple of guys another opportunity to get that right," Simpson said.
Darren Glass is a timely return for the Eagles. Mark Hutchings has been included after 28 touches in the WAFL last Monday while Jeremy McGovern will play just his second AFL game. He is likely to play forward in the absence of Kennedy after debuting in defence against Carlton.
"He earned his spot in the side early in the year as a defender and now he has the ability to play at both ends," Simpson said of McGovern.
"It was part of our project to get him up to that dual role capacity."
