Adam Simpson enjoyed a lap of honour at Optus Stadium as he waved goodbye to his adoring West Coast Eagles fans.
Simpson agreed to leave the AFL club earlier this week amid a miserable season in the competition,but leaves with happy memories having taken the Eagles to the 2018 premiership.
The footy coach turned down the chance to coach the team for one final game in Sunday's clash against Brisbane,but said a few words to the crowd ahead of the game.
'This is a little awkward,' Simpson said as he took the microphone.
'Really quickly just on behalf of the players,the coaches and the footy club we'd just like to thank you guys for your support over the last 11 years it's just been an amazing run.
'We've had a lot of success … how good was '18.
'But we've also had some hard times as well and I can't thank you guys enough and show enough appreciation for the last 12 months how you've stuck by the boys,how you've stuck by me and how you stuck by the club.
The 2018 premiership-winning coach embraced his fans one final time
'I'm a part of you guys now I'll be up in the stands somewhere,just need to get a couple of tickets from someone.
'I'll be watching on,I can't wait to see these boys play the next part of the journey and the football club thanks for everything,lets get on with it go Eagles. Thank you.'
Simpson then handed the microphone back and headed to the centre for the coin toss before receiving a rapturous applause.
'Adam Simpson is going to pocket the coin at the end of the coin toss,' David King joked on Fox Footy.
'He's taken everything out of the joint over the last six,seven,eight,10,12 years — he's just going to have one last dip at the West Coast Football Club and steal the coin after tossing it.
'After doing a magnificent job,he earned that as well.'
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