Collingwood assistant Hayden Skipworth makes pitch to Eagles bosses as coaching race narrows

One of the potential candidates to fill the vacant West Coast Eagles coaching position has staked his claim for the job.

Hayden Skipworth arrived in Perth on Thursday as the race to replace Adam Simpson narrowed down to three.

"It's a big, powerful club with a huge supporter base and is commercially really strong," he said. 

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"They're on the up, so who wouldn't want to coach them?"

Skipworth is currently an assistant coach at Collingwood, and said West Coast could pull off a turnaround similar to what happened at the Pies.

"We went through something similar at Collingwood – finished 17th then went preliminary, grand final," he said. 

Skipworth is one of three names vying to replace Simpson, alongside Geelong assistant Steven King, who met Eagles officials in Perth on Wednesday, and Melbourne's Andrew McQualter, who also arrived in Perth on Thursday. 

"I'm not there to split the difference between me and them and what they want," Skipworth said. 

"I'm just going to be myself, be authentic, and if it's a good fit for both parties, we'll push on."

One advantage he does have is working with Eagles great John Worsfold at Essendon and playing under current CEO Don Pyke at Adelaide.

"He was my line coach at the Crows for a few years when I was there, he's an unbelievable coach and would be doing a good job as CEO too," he said.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.