AFLW: West Coast Eagles sign former West Coast Fever star Verity Simmons

Just weeks after calling time on her decorated netball career, Verity Simmons has landed a deal to join West Coast’s AFLW side for next season. Simmons won two Super Netball premierships, one with the Queensland Firebirds and one with the West Coast Fever, as well as earning three caps for Australia, but pulled the pin last month after 159 games. As reported by The West Australian, Simmons chose the Eagles as her preferred destination last week before signing a rookie deal on Thursday. “It all happened very quickly. As much as I love netball and the game, I was just kind of phasing out of it,” she said. “I think when you’re at the elite level, if you’re not loving what you’re doing, you probably shouldn’t be there, which put me in this position to open myself up to something new. “Football came across the table. I’ve never done it before, but I’ve played a bit of sevens and touch footy back in the day, but we’re just moving through the process and now I’m here with the Eagles.” The 32-year-old said she was excited to be starting a new sport and learning the intricacies. “I’m super excited to move into footy,” Simmons said. “I’m definitely going to be fresh; I’m excited to come through as a rookie and just be a sponge and soak up as much as I literally can. “Switching codes is always super exciting, and getting to have a crack at this. “The fact that I’ll be able to run with the ball and not have to pass it is great. “The field is so big, the speed, the agility, I think I’ll really try and transfer that from netball onto the paddock. “The contact will be huge, but that also really excites me; the physicality of it is incredible to watch.”