Peter Sumich Biography

Peter Sumich raises eyebrows by claiming there may be a wider problem at the Eagles if Willie Rioli is proven to have tampered with his urine sample to conceal something sinister.

Sumich said that experience had taught him that there could be wider issues at a club if someone is caught doing something bad.

West Coach Adam Simpson was livid with Sumich's comments, especially with how he drew parallels with what happened at the Eagles during the Ben Cousins era.

"It's just disappointing that you can compare the two and automatically switch to something that happened 12 years ago," Simpson told Channel 7.

"After what we've heard initially with what has happened with Willie – it's a completely different situation.

"For someone who hasn't been at the club for 10 years – it's a bit of an insult to the people who have done all the work to create a really strong culture that's got a really good pedigree.

"It's a bit of a slap in the face to the players and the staff who have all the hard work to get the club in a position where we think we've got a really strong respected culture."

WA state under-18s coach Peter Sumich says he feels great pride in watching his players, drafted in 2017, thrive in the AFL.

"It really put a smile on my face and probably, this sounds a bit corny, a little bit of a tear in the eye because you're seeing kids get what they deserve – and that's opportunity," Sumich said.

"I look at that and think 'Jeez, I had a bit to do with that'. It's just a real good feeling."

Josh Kennedy is close to breaking Peter Sumich's West Coast goalkicking tally, being only one shy of Sumich's total of 514 goals.

"Suma was a terrific player and he's brought it up a few times. He will always say he did it in 150 games and not over (nearly) 200, so I don't think I'll ever really beat his record," Kennedy said.

"But it will be something that will be quite special I suppose to have your name up on the wall if it does happen."

Peter Sumich will take charge of Western Australia's best young talent in the under-18s system after turning down an offer to be part of Adelaide's coaching team.

Sumich, who left Fremantle in August after five seasons as an assistant and senior development coach, was courted by the Crows to fill a proposed high performance role after the departure of football manager David Noble.

However, the 48-year-old has chosen to exit the AFL system for the first time in 15 years to take on what is understood to be an expanded role with the WA Football Commission.

"The opportunity to coach the best young players and coaches in WA is exciting. I'm really looking forward to working with (state talent manager) Adam Jones and Tony Micale again and sinking my teeth into it," Sumich said.

"I'm also looking forward to building a really strong brand in the 16s and 18s and helping the Colts coaches to become better coaches over a long period of time so hopefully they'll continue on and become really good coaches at WAFL and AFL level in the future."

Peter Sumich will travel to Adelaide this week to discuss a senior role working alongside coach and former teammate Don Pyke as the Crows restructure their football department.

Sumich, who left Fremantle in August after five seasons as an assistant and senior development coach, will speak to the Crows about a proposed high performance role.

The senior coaching prospects of Peter Sumich and Brett Montgomery have been boosted after the pair was accepted into the AFL's coaching accreditation course for 2016.

After a lengthy interview process, the AFL notified successful applicants on Monday, with assistants Justin Longmuir (West Coast) and Jade Rawlings (Melbourne) rounding out the second intake of the level four program.

There are now 12 coaches completing the course, which the AFL hopes will eventually become mandatory for those applying for senior positions in the future.

The Western Bulldogs consider candidates for the vacant head coaching role at the club that include Fremantle assistant coach Peter Sumich, Western Bulldogs assistant Brett Montgomery and newly appointed St Kilda director of coaching Luke Beveridge.

Fremantle assistant coach Peter Sumich says he is dismayed at having missed out on the top coaching job at the Eagles.

"I'm gutted, no doubt about that," he said.

"I thought I was a really good chance of getting this one and unfortunately it didn't work out.

"But I understand the club's move and we all move on. I've just signed a new contract with Fremantle and I'm looking forward to that."

John Worsfold says Eagles assistant coaches Peter Sumich and Scott Burns are ready to succeed him as head coach of the Eagles.

"Peter Sumich has now followed a very good pathway into giving himself the background to be a senior coach, having coached reserve level in the WAFL and in the seniors, and then as an assistant coach at two difference clubs over 12 years," Worsfold said.

"And Scott Burns … [his coaching career is a] bit shorter but as a player for such a long period and playing under Leigh Matthews and then Mick Malthouse, and then working with myself for five years, I think he's got a good grasp of what coaching takes and how you can attack different issues."

Eagles assistant coach Peter Sumich has left West Coast to take up a role on the coaching staff of Fremantle.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge, coming to this great club and hopefully getting some success in the near future," Sumich said.

"It's the right time for me. West Coast is on the up and it's probably a good time to leave. It's more my gut feeling of where I'm at in my career and what I need to achieve, and what I can bring to this club."

West Coast coach John Worsfold says his assistant Peter Sumich still has what it takes to be a senior coach after he missed out on the Richmond job.

"Clubs obviously have processes they go through and Suma is pretty clear on where he sits and what he's aiming to do," Worsfold said.

"He won't apply for all jobs, but there's times where he will apply knowing he may not expect to get on the shortlist, but he'll go through the process for the experience of it and learn.

"He's got all of the capabilities to be a senior coach."

West Coast's all-time leading goalkicker and premiership assistant Peter Sumich puts his name in the hat for the Tigers' top job and says he is better position for a senior gig than he was in 2007.

"I'm better prepared, but I thought I prepared and gave a great presentation for the Essendon job and went very close," Sumich said.

"So I'll just bowl along and see what happens. It's out of my hands. If I get the opportunity, just give it your best shot and that's it."

West Coast assistant Peter Sumich has been cleared by Eagles management to mount a bid to win a senior coaching position.

"We would be very supportive of 'Suma' if he was interested in applying for a senior job," Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett said.

"He has the experience of coaching his own team and great experience with building a team, winning a premiership and now rebuilding a team.

"We have no problem at all in supporting him, as we have in the past.

"There's no problem with an application going in now as there is never a good time and he has always been very committed to us."

West Coast assistant coach Peter Sumich says Daniel Kerr's one-week ban was worth it because he 'flew the flag' for teammates.

"Daniel unfortunately cops a week, and he wears that, but I think our club and the younger players will look at that and say, 'Well he flew the flag and we're pretty rapt with that'," Sumich said.

"I think Daniel's been terrific in that area.

"That's his call and a spur of the moment decision, but I thought it was a bit of tit for tat to be honest with you, that's the way it looked."

West Coast assistant coach Peter Sumich says he still has senior coaching ambitions but is going to take a low-key approach to the Richmond vacancy.

"There's no doubt I do," Sumich said when asked if he had aspirations to become a head coach.

"Where it ends up at the end of the year with Richmond and what they want to do, that's up to them.

"That's out of my control. I just play it low-key.

"When it all comes out later on in the year we'll see what happens."