The West Coast Eagles' new senior coach said it had been a roller-coaster 24 hours after only finding out he got the job on Sunday.

The club appointed Andrew McQualter as it attempted to overcome a horror three-year stretch that saw the club sink down the AFL ladder.

"It's been a heavy 24 hours," McQualter told press just a couple of hours after touching down in Perth.

"We were in country Victoria and driving back in the rain when [club CEO Don Pyke] called.

"I think I went sideways off the side of the road."

McQualter, a former Richmond and Melbourne assistant coach, has joined the Eagles on a three-year contract.

He replaces Adam Simpson, who announced his departure mid-season, with Jarrod Schofield overseeing West Coast's final seven games.

Pyke said it had been an opportunity for the club to take stock.

"We wanted to make sure we get the right person to give the club the opportunity … to get a fresh start and a fresh piece of paper," he said.

"With [McQualter] coming on board, we get that."

Not a 'poison chalice'

McQualter said far from viewing the club as a "poison chalice", he had always admired the Eagles.

Still, he acknowledged there was a lot of work to be done.

"I'm really clear on the way that I want the game to look and to play and it will be different to the way West Coast have played for the last little while," he said.

"That should be really exciting for the guys … we'll create a style that suits us and puts us in the best position to win games of football."

McQualter refused to be drawn on reports Richmond premiership players Liam Baker and Jack Graham had requested to follow their former interim coach to the Eagles.

"I've got about 320 messages on my phone I've got to get to, so we'll get around to that when the time's right," he said.

At 38, McQualter is the same age as the young WA club, and the youngest coach in the league.

McQualter was interim coach at Richmond for 13 games in 2023, leading the club to seven wins and six losses.

The Eagles have won a total of 10 games over the last three years, finishing in the AFL's bottom three each season, and have not made the finals since 2020.

McQualter won the West Coast job after being shortlisted alongside Collingwood assistant coach Hayden Skipworth and Geelong assistant Steven King.

He also spent four seasons as a development coach with Richmond's VFL team between 2013 and 2016.

Honeymoon begins

As McQualter touched down in Perth today, the honeymoon period officially began.

Many supporters have backed the coach's appointment, calling for him to be given breathing room to get the club into shape.

"He comes in with fresh ideas from the east coast and I think it's a good thing," Mick O'Callaghan said.

"Anything at this stage I think is a good thing."

"It's good to have a fresh, younger mindset and take [a] different approach," Tina Francisco agreed.

"Let's see what he's going to do … [It] can't be any worse."

Ken Pettit said he had high hopes for the trade period with McQualter on board.

"They need to be searching for two or three top players to help these young players that are coming through now," he said.

"[McQualter] seems to have a lot of contacts and we may get a couple of good players from Richmond because of his connection there."

Victorian-born Nick Declerck, who supports Carlton, said he hoped McQualter was prepared for a life in the limelight.

He said WA's fanbase was in many ways more intense than back home.

"It's a bit of a fishbowl over here," Mr Declerck said.

"You can hide a bit more in Victoria."

McQualter is just the seventh head coach in West Coast's 38-year history.

The Eagles are due to hold a media conference this afternoon to formally introduce him.