A pair of AFL greats have thrown their support behind Essendon’s feisty approach against Sydney at the weekend, with one citing that the club “has not stood for anything for the best part of 15 years”.
While a number of physical incidents drew raised eyebrows on Saturday, there wasn’t one more notable or divisive than Peter Wright’s collision with Sydney’s Harry Cunningham in the first quarter, which left the veteran defender concussed.
In the days leading into the Round 2 contest, coach Brad Scott advertised the “Essendon edge” when discussing the approach he wanted from his players.
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Despite receiving criticism — including from Sydney’s Tom Papley, who labelled the Bombers’ aggression “a facade” post-game — former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said he’d be pleased with the approach if he were a Bombers fan.
“If I’m an Essendon fan sitting and watching that at home — yeah, there were a couple of instances that went over the top, but I liked seeing that,” he told Fox Footy’s On the Couch on Monday evening.
“I thought that, to a man, that they all bought into the physicality.”
Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown supported Scott’s continued suggestion of Essendon physicality, referencing the club’s lack of on-field success in recent years.
“So he should’ve, too, because that club has not stood for anything for the best part of 15 years,” Brown declared.
“They weren’t playing in the manner of their coach last year; they’re starting to play in the manner of their coach (this year).”
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Following the incidents involving Wright and Sam Draper, as well as a near-miss by Nick Hind, Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph reported the Swans quietly remain at odds with the weekend’s events.
“I think it’s still fair to say that Sydney is still privately quite frustrated about the events at the weekend,” Ralph told Fox Footy.
“It was a repeated set of incidents, the Sydney players were upset, they felt like the Essendon players just continually went for the player rather than the (ball). Then the Nick Hind swinging elbow, I think, was one that could’ve been so much worse.
“Essendon today (was) very strong — the mood of the summer was ‘we have an edge because we’re too easy to play against’. It’s all about being stronger in the contest.
“And they were strong in the contest for at least a half, but Wright could miss a month, Draper could’ve been suspended, and Hind could’ve been anything. So, they’ve just got to get the balance right … they’re just not doing it well so far.”
The Bombers and Swans are scheduled to meet again in Round 23 in Melbourne.
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