West Coast AFL coach Adam Simpson has laughed off talk his position could be in peril, saying he hasn't been bothered by the heated criticism directed at him.
Simpson has come under increasing pressure after costly fadeouts over the past three weeks against Collingwood and St Kilda.
West Coast sit ninth on the AFL ladder, and must beat Carlton on Saturday night at Domain Stadium to have a realistic chance of making the finals.
Rodney Eade (Gold Coast) became the first coach this year to be sacked. Collingwood's Nathan Buckley is another who could be on the chopping block.
Simpson has two more years to run on his contract, and his job appears safe barring a remarkable turn of events up until the end of the season.
When asked whether the sacking of Eade was a reminder of how perilous his position could be, Simpson replied with a laugh: "Are you serious What's that (Eade's sacking) got to do with me?
"I'm trying to win this week.
"To answer your question, you send Rocket (Eade) a text message and you have empathy for what he's going through.
"We're all in this together in terms of the industry."
Simpson joked that he was putting on ear muffs when out in public to block out the abuse.
But the fourth-year coach said the criticism was merely a part of the job.
"Everyone goes through it," Simpson said.
"You've got to stick the course, block out the noise and get on with it. I don't worry about it at all.
"Everyone's got agendas; it's all fine. I'll stick to mine.
"You won't see me trawling online for feedback.
"It's really good learning for me to go through these types of situations. You just get on with it."
If West Coast only win two of their remaining three games (against Carlton, GWS and Adelaide), percentage could decide whether they sneak into the finals.
But Simpson said that was the furthest thing from his mind as he attempted to fix his team's last-quarter woes.
Simpson says his players are galvanised, and well aware they are "fighting for our lives" as the race for finals spots heats up.
Retiring midfielder Matt Priddis, speedster Lewis Jetta and ruckman Nathan Vardy have been named to return this week.
Carlton replaced Caleb Marchbank (arm) with Tom Williamson.
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