The unwanted West Coast job that sent shivers down spines

West Coast once had a position that nobody wanted to play - bar one person.

It was known as the ‘red wing’ and it was set up as a connector piece, rather than giving the player brave enough to step into the role the freedom to do as he pleased.

Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson explained the rationale behind the role and how only one man - Chris Masten - wanted to sacrifice himself by constantly sitting in the hole on the ‘fat side’ of the ground.

“It was called the ‘red wing’,” the 2018 premiership coach said on SEN’s Whateley.

“Chris Masten loved it because it got him a spot in the side. It’s pretty much the fat side winger.

“I don’t think any team does it anymore because you share it. When you’re on the open side wing you don’t get involved in the play, you are there to support on the fat side. You are just connecting to your defence and you’re connecting to your offence on the dead side.

“I actually told Masten, ‘you’re always on the dead side, if the ball is going down one side and you’re skinny, you are running on the fat side, and if it gets switched you’re running backwards on the fat side’.

“You’re never allowed near the ball. Because he was so good at organising and supporting and connecting - he was a bit of a whipping boy with our fans - but nobody realised the role he played. He was such a good organiser.”

Simpson is adamant that without Masten’s dedication to the unheralded role, the Eagles likely wouldn’t have won the flag in 2018.

He admits that West Coast found it difficult to attract candidates after Masten left the club in 2019.

“There’s no way we win a premiership without our red wing. He embraced it,” Simpson continued.

“But when he left, no one wanted to do the red wing role unless you’re a young fella who is just trying to get a spot in the side.

“I think most sides now keep their wingers where they are, but we had Andrew Gaff and Dom Sheed as the green wing. They would sweep at stoppages.

“I didn’t want ‘Masto’ sweeping, I wanted him 30 metres out the other side of the ground just to cover off on his transition running.

“The red wing sent shivers down our players’ spines. No one wants that role.”

Masten played 24 games in the 2018 season including a controlled role in the Grand Final win over Collingwood in which he had 14 touches, four rebound 50s and three clearances.

The former No.3 draft pick played 215 games in royal blue and gold.

Listen to The Coach’s Eye with Simpson below: