Sour Brad Scott flames Essendon: Is it fair or a bad reflection on him?

Sacked Essendon coach Brad Scott absolutely slammed his former club less than 24 hours after his dismissal.

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Was it fair enough for Scott to unleash on the Bombers hierarchy or is it a bad reflection on his character?

It is interesting to note Scott’s reaction to being sacked compared to recent high-profile axings, including Michael Voss, Ken Hinkley and Adam Simpson.

Voss is yet to say anything about the likely instability at Carlton — which includes the handling of Elijah Hollands.

MORE: Brad Scott: Essendon and Carlton make literally the same coach mistake

Hinkley ultimately agreed to be involved in a succession plan that certainly didn’t go well while he was still coach — but has stayed the course for the club.

Premiership coach Simpson has had plenty of time to be scathing about reasons for West Coast’s demise but has refused to go there.

On the day of his dismissal as Essendon coach, Scott had the following quotes to say about his time at the Bombers:

Zach Merrett

«That was a club decision to retain Zach,» Scott said on The Agenda Setters.

«My view was that Zach had given incredible service to the Essendon Football Club … I felt for him.

«I thought he had been promised things over and over again and he was at his wit’s end and he couldn’t invest in the team anymore. Now, he certainly does with his actions on the field.

«But my view was that we should have let him go. But the club’s view was that we should keep him. And my view is what the club’s view is and I fronted that.»

Scott also said Essendon should trade Merrett at the end of 2026: «It’s the right thing for him, and it’s the right thing for the club.

«I think it would be mutually beneficial for both. But that was my view at the end of last year. But that was my view, not the overall club’s view,»

On his sacking

«We’re going through a difficult period, clearly, but it hasn’t felt any different to other weeks,» Scott said.

«I’ve been really well supported over a long period of time with the plan we put in place, and all the key people were part of that plan. So it felt like business as usual to me.

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«I don’t believe this was the right decision. I believe we were all committed to the path.

«But I also understand, when losses add up, pressure is applied.

«It was surprising but in a way, I’ve been in this industry for a long time, it was not surprising because pressure does strange things.»

On leaks at Essendon

«I have unfortunately come to expect [leaks of news] a little bit. It’s been a challenge at Essendon over the journey,» Scott said.

«But the frustrating bit about this was I spoke with Andrew (president Andrew Welsh) last night (Monday) and we were going to catch up at 7.30 this morning and we were going to hold it tight.

«There were only eight people who knew, plus the media manager. And then I’d get the opportunity to speak to the players.

«But at 7.30, the players already knew because everyone knew. So it made it untenable to go to the club and speak to the players. So that’ll have to come a bit later.»

On Essendon’s Harley Reid pursuit

«Harley is an incredible player, and I don’t think Essendon were the only club that was very interested in trying to lure Harley back to Victoria,» Scott said.

«I’m sure every club discussed it, but yeah, that [offer] was certainly the quantum of what it would’ve taken. 

«It’s not to say he would’ve come, but if you do that, my view was that we’re not after a one-player solution. We need to build this sustainably.

«If we’d done that, for instance, we would’ve traded all our picks, so there’d be no [Nate] Caddy, there’d be no [Isaac] Kako, there’d be no [Dyson] Sharp, [Sullivan] Robey or [Jacob] Farrow, but we’d have Harley. 

«I just didn’t think we were at the stage where one player was going to make the difference.»

Scott: Justified or sour grapes?

Whatever your take on Scott’s quotes, it’s pretty clear there has been plenty of division at Essendon in recent times.

You be the judge though.

Would Scott have been more dignified to not have spoken his mind about the Bombers and their list management?

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Or is he right to call it out publicly?