The West Coast Eagles have officially announced Andrew McQualter will be their new head coach, signing him on a three-year deal.

West Coast said in a statement that McQualter, a former Richmond assistant coach, was one of the three candidates that they wanted to be their senior coach.

“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,” the statement said.

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

McQualter was Richmond’s VFL head coach from 2013-2016 before becoming an AFL assistant coach at the Tigers from 2017-2023. He then became interim coach for Richmond in 2023 for 13 games, after Damien Hardwick resigned, ending up with seven wins and six losses. In 2024 he was an assistant coach at Melbourne Football Club.

McQualter beat Hayden Skipworth and Steven King for the job.

The 38-year-old said he is thrilled to receive the job offer and is looking forward to coaching the team.

“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,” he said.

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

Out-of-contract Richmond player Liam Baker has requested a trade to the Eagles after McQualter was named head coach. McQualter was part of the Richmond coaching staff for the majority of Baker’s career at the Tigers. It is also expected that Jack Graham will follow McQualter and Baker to Western Australia, joining West Coast as a unrestricted free agent.

Photo: West Coast cheersquad by Flickerd is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons Licence. This image has not been modified.