This week, Essendon ruckman Sam Draper faced the consequences of his “disrespectful” comments regarding the Western Bulldogs, with coach Brad Scott expressing disappointment over the impact of Draper’s words on the club’s hard-earned reputation.
Draper’s remarks, made on a podcast, insinuated that Bulldogs players would depart if Luke Beveridge remained coach. However, Draper’s absence from Saturday night’s thrilling win against West Coast was unrelated to his comments.
In his first public statement since the incident, Scott emphasized Essendon’s arduous journey to regain respect in the league, particularly after the damaging supplements saga of 2012. He conveyed his disappointment to Draper, emphasizing the gravity of his remarks.
Reflecting on the match against West Coast, Scott praised his team’s maturity and composure, highlighting Zach Merrett’s leadership amid a challenging contest. Despite West Coast’s spirited performance and injuries to key players like Elliot Yeo and Noah Long, Essendon maintained control and secured a hard-fought victory.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson commended his team’s resilience despite setbacks, including injuries to Yeo and Long. He acknowledged missed opportunities but refused to attribute blame for the loss to individual errors.
In particular, a costly lapse in judgement from Jamie Cripps, resulting in a free kick to the opposition, had significant implications for the game’s outcome. However, Simpson emphasized collective responsibility and the need to learn from such moments rather than assigning blame.