West Coast’s new coach confirmed as Andrew McQualter after close race with Hayden Skipworth

West Coast have picked Andrew McQualter as their new senior coach, with a three-year deal announced on Monday.

The former Richmond caretaker learned on Sunday that he had won the race ahead of Collingwood assistant Hayden Skipworth, who was a close second, and Geelong’s Steven King.

McQualter, 38, missed out on the Tigers job on a full-time basis last year and subsequently left to join Melbourne. He will now head west for his first genuine shot at moulding a club in his image.

“I have been working towards this moment for the last 10 years and I’m thrilled to be appointed as coach of the West Coast Eagles,” McQualter said in a club statement.

“I am aware that there is much work to do and I am definitely up for that.

“There is some exciting young talent at the club with a mix of outstanding players and I couldn’t be more excited to get over there and get to work with them.”

The consequences of his appointment have come thick and fast, too.

West Coast are in line to secure Tigers duo Liam Baker and Jack Graham while their premiership teammate Shai Bolton also wants to return to WA, though Fremantle appear to be a more likely destination.

Significant decisions must be made elsewhere in the trade period and at the draft to accelerate the Eagles’ rebuild.

West Coast CEO Don Pyke held meetings with all three candidates last week in Melbourne.

“We believe Andrew has the professional and personal qualities and experience required to guide our team. We are excited to have someone of his calibre leading our football program forward,” Pyke said.

“We were in a fortunate position where we had three exceptional candidates short-listed with Andrew possessing the credentials and vision needed to help us make strong progress.

“Andrew has a firm vision of what needs to be done and is ready to embrace the opportunity of being an AFL senior coach.

“We welcome Andrew, Jane, Emily, Alice and Georgia to our West Coast family.”

West Coast are set for a coaching shake-up underneath McQualter.

It is unclear if Jarrad Schofield, who finished his caretaker stint with a 2-5 record, will remain with the club after missing out on the top job.

Eagles assistants Matthew Knights and Tom Morrison are both on the way out.

McQualter had been at Richmond for the entirety of their triple premiership run and coached the Tigers to seven wins from 13 games last year following his elevation after Damien Hardwick resigned.

Skipworth was crucial to Collingwood’s 2023 flag while King, who is recovering from a medical episode in the days after presenting to West Coast two weeks ago, spent time at Gold Coast prior to rejoining Geelong for this season.

King recorded two wins from seven games when he took charge of the Suns as caretaker coach to finish last season.