MOVING ON: Eagles coach John Worsfold will no longer have Peter Sumich by his side after the assistant's defection to Fremantle. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun

Peter Sumich won’t be alongside him.

For the first time in his decade-long senior coaching career, Worsfold will be without his trusted right-hand man as West Coast prepares for battle in two shortened NAB Cup games against Essendon and Fremantle.

Sumich, who won two premierships as a player and one as an assistant coach with the Eagles, joined the Dockers’ coaching staff last October in a major coup for the port club.

But Worsfold said the pair had been able to maintain their friendship despite being on opposite sides of one of the AFL’s most fierce rivalries.

“Suma and I… we have a relationship where we don’t need to ring each other each week to say hello,” Worsfold said.

“We catch up irregularly, whether that’s in person or over the phone.

“Nothing’s really changed in my relationship with Sum, and we don’t talk in code or anything like that when we talk - we both talk openly about issues we have.”

Worsfold compared the situation to his relationship with Gold Coast coach and fellow duel-premiership defender Guy McKenna.

“I can go a couple of months without hearing from Bluey - they’re usually the best two months of the year,” Worsfold joked.

“We’re mates and we have good relationships but we’re pretty flat-out doing our jobs.”

The West Coast coach admitted it was “different” beginning pre-season training without his long-time assistant, but said Sumich’s departure had opened the door for new coaching opportunities at the club.

“It’s not strange (without Sumich),” Worsfold said.

“As much as I like him, I'm not fretting. It was different.

“(Development coach) Adrian Hickmott has been brilliant, so that’s someone who’s got an opportunity to get back into the AFL system with the movement of coaches that goes on.”

Follow Chris Robinson on Twitter: @CJKRobinson
 

Original post:
Woosha ready for life without Suma