Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
A two‑time AFL premiership player, West Coast Eagles premiership coach, and now a respected voice in football media, Adam Simpson dives deep into life inside the AFL, from winning flags at North Melbourne, coaching West Coast to a historic 2018 premiership, and navigating the brutal reality of losing, scrutiny, and stepping away from the game.
🎧 The Howie Games is Australia's #1 Sports Podcast. Where the biggest names in the world of sport go one-on-one with sports journalist Mark Howard. From ultimate highs to tear-jerking lows, Howie lifts the lid on the real stories behind the headlines. He sits down with the biggest names in Australian & world sport, finding out how they started out, what makes them tick, how they deal with the big wins and the big losses, and how they take on sport and life from here.
Hear the full Howie Games episode on LiSTNR 👉 listnr.com/podcasts/the-howie-games
Stream full Howie Games episodes on Apple Podcasts & Spotify 👉 link.chtbl.com/HowieGameslisten
Stream full episodes on LiSTNR 👉 https://fal.cn/HowieGamesListnr
00:00 Adam Simpson intro & career overview
06:15 Coaching vs media: freedom & pressure
12:30 Being adopted & upbringing
19:15 First days at North Melbourne
31:50 1996 Premiership memories
36:55 Losing a Grand Final & learning resilience
46:35 What makes a great AFL coach?
53:20 Taking charge at West Coast Eagles
57:50 Building towards 2018
01:07:00 Coaching from the box explained
01:11:40 The McGovern mark to the Sheed kick
01:22:15 Heavy losses & rebuilding years
01:27:30 Media criticism & personal toll
01:31:10 Would Adam Simpson coach again?
01:33:25 Best player coached & faced
01:39:30 Advice for young people in sport
A two‑time AFL premiership player, West Coast Eagles premiership coach, and now a respected voice in football media, Adam Simpson dives deep into life inside the AFL, from winning flags at North Melbourne, coaching West Coast to a historic 2018 premiership, and navigating the brutal reality of losing, scrutiny, and stepping away from the game.
🎧 The Howie Games is Australia's #1 Sports Podcast. Where the biggest names in the world of sport go one-on-one with sports journalist Mark Howard. From ultimate highs to tear-jerking lows, Howie lifts the lid on the real stories behind the headlines. He sits down with the biggest names in Australian & world sport, finding out how they started out, what makes them tick, how they deal with the big wins and the big losses, and how they take on sport and life from here.
Hear the full Howie Games episode on LiSTNR 👉 listnr.com/podcasts/the-howie-games
Stream full Howie Games episodes on Apple Podcasts & Spotify 👉 link.chtbl.com/HowieGameslisten
Stream full episodes on LiSTNR 👉 https://fal.cn/HowieGamesListnr
00:00 Adam Simpson intro & career overview
06:15 Coaching vs media: freedom & pressure
12:30 Being adopted & upbringing
19:15 First days at North Melbourne
31:50 1996 Premiership memories
36:55 Losing a Grand Final & learning resilience
46:35 What makes a great AFL coach?
53:20 Taking charge at West Coast Eagles
57:50 Building towards 2018
01:07:00 Coaching from the box explained
01:11:40 The McGovern mark to the Sheed kick
01:22:15 Heavy losses & rebuilding years
01:27:30 Media criticism & personal toll
01:31:10 Would Adam Simpson coach again?
01:33:25 Best player coached & faced
01:39:30 Advice for young people in sport
