Essendon coach Brad Scott to seek answers after players ‘bewildered’ by umpiring decisions
Essendon coach Brad Scott will seek clarification from the umpiring department after he said his players were blindsided by some decisions on the Gold Coast.
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Essendon coach Brad Scott will seek clarification from the umpiring department after two crucial decisions went against the Bombers late in their 11-point defeat to Gold Coast on Sunday night.
Jayden Laverde was caught out by one of footy’s most touch-and-go rules when the Essendon defender incorrectly returned the ball to Brayden Fiorini instead of Touk Miller.
Only moments earlier Laverde intercepted a Miller pass inside 50 and Essendon looked to rebound through Jye Caldwell before he was taken in a double Suns tackle.
Miller was awarded the holding the ball free kick but Laverde, unaware whose kick it was, instead passed the ball to the closest Suns player, Fiorini.
Miller was subsequently marched to near the top of the goal square and kicked the match winner with just under two minutes to play.
“I think Jayden just threw it to the player he thought whose free kick it was,” Scott said.
“But again, umpiring is really hard because people say use common sense, but they also want the umpires to umpire to the letter of the law, so I don’t get too concerned about that (decision).”
But the Bombers boss did say he would ask for clarification on the deliberate out of bounds rules interpretation, after Nick Hind’s kick off the ground earlier in the quarter was paid a Suns free kick for insufficient intent.
Scott said his players were left “bewildered” by the call, which came after Hind kicked the ball up field while running towards the boundary line under pressure from a Suns opponent.
“I think if you kick the ball off the ground the umpires tend to pay deliberate out of bounds, so we just need to clarify that so I can let our players know because they looked a bit bewildered (by) a couple of those deliberates (decisions),” Scott said.
But he refused to use the umpiring as an excuse for the Bombers’ first defeat since round five.
“I didn’t think the umpiring had any bearing on the game tonight,” Scott said.
“Whichever team prevailed deserved to win.
“I thought this round they (the umpires) had a really big challenge in that there were some changes (to interpretations) and I think they umpires are in an incredibly difficult position. They’re doing a good job.”
Compounding the defeat was an apparent hip injury to spearhead Kyle Langford, who was subbed out of the game in the third quarter.
It was only the second time this season Langford had been held goalless in a game.
Scott was unsure on the severity of the injury though did not seem too concerned about his key forward’s availability ahead of the Sunday night blockbuster against Carlton.
“It sounds like a hip pointer. A cork in his hip, but it’s difficult to clarify,” the coach said.
“It doesn’t sound too serious but it was a question of function and he couldn’t function.”
Veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein was a late out on Sunday night with a sore ankle but should be fit in time to face the Blues.
SUNS’ FORTRESS HOLDS FIRM AGAINST DONS’ DESPERATION
It’s time to start using the ‘F’ word, Suns fans.
No, not finals. Not yet. Fortress.
Gold Coast is now 5-0 at People First Stadium and this was its finest hour yet. The 11-point victory over an in-form Essendon on Sunday lacked some of the polish and poise of previous home games, but it was the most impressive this season with context applied.
The Suns have for the most part been unmatched at home this year, but from a long way out the Bombers loomed as the true litmus test. Pass this and we could start talking about the ‘F’ word.
They had previously comfortably accounted for Richmond, Adelaide, West Coast and Hawthorn at home. Sunday’s arm wrestle was the first proper look at the Suns under serious pressure to defend their Carrara fortress.
There were more than a few opportunities for the wheels to come off.
When Nick Hind was awarded a third-quarter goal after Suns players were adamant his kick was touched, it sent some shivers through the Carrara crowd.
At the turn for home, Jed Walter looked a certainty to line up for a crucial goal after a textbook holding the ball tackle – only for the umpire to keep the whistle in the pocket.
And then came perhaps the harshest call of them all. When Sam Durham marked on 50m and looked to wheel onto his right foot he was tackled by Charlie Ballard who thought he had earned a free kick. Instead the Bombers midfielder was marched to the top of the goalsquare and his subsequent goal brought the visitors level.
At that point an Essendon win felt ominous. Yet in the face of incredible pressure, the Suns stood tall. Perhaps fittingly, it was a crucial call in the hosts’ direction that sealed the deal.
Brayden Fiorini might have feared he cost his side the game with his bizarre brain fade running on-goal in the third quarter, when he centred to a 1-on-3 when he had an open Bailey Humphrey in the goalsquare.
But the winger’s quick thinking to call for ball after a late Suns free kick – which should have been handed to Touk Miller – put his skipper to the top of goalsquare for the sealer.
Damien Hardwick will have plenty to dissect in the coming days. His side often invited pressure by over-handballing in its defensive half and the transition game at times lacked polish. Some of the decision making was poor and the momentum swings nearly cost them the game.
But deep down the Suns coach will be buoyed by the grit his side showed when put under the Bomber blowtorch.
The Suns were down in many of their usual KPIs. The AFL’s No. 1 territory team lost the inside 50 battle 54-58 and was also beaten at clearance for the first time at home this season, 28-30.
This was a win built not on the backs of their superstar midfielders, but a dour defensive display and a little class from the lesser lights.
Sam Collins put Kyle Langford in his pocket and kept him there all night. The Bombers’ spearhead went almost unsighted in a forward line that saw the ball almost 60 times and was substituted midway through the final quarter.
Bombers skipper Zach Merrett looked set to engineer a comeback with a brilliant burst in the third quarter but his three behinds – which could and perhaps should have been goals – proved costly.
It was a microcosm of the Bombers’ night. When they had the momentum in the first and third quarters, they just could not capitalise on the scoreboard.
At the other end, 100-gamer Ben Long enjoyed a career-best four goals and was among a number of unsung Suns matchwinners.
After a down day against the Blues last weekend, Noah Anderson came to life in the second half and was instrumental in extinguishing the Bombers’ final quarter momentum with some brilliant work at the coalface.
The Suns used a different blueprint to defeat the Bombers and it’s one they must now take on the road against St Kilda next weekend. They are a known commodity at People First Stadium. The next challenge is to snap a 12-game losing streak on the road.
Do that, and then Suns fans can start thinking about the other ‘F’ word.
SUNS HOLD OFF DESPERATE DONS
— Hannah Davies
Gold Coast held off a desperate Essendon unit to launch themselves into the top-eight and further their case as finals contenders in a thrilling affair at People First Stadium.
The 91-80 win – their first over the Bombers since 2016 – was the result of a full team surge, and a career-best goal-haul from 100-gamer Ben Long.
Gold Coast snapped the top-two side’s four-game winning streak to remain undefeated at home, now sitting 7-5 across the season.
The Bombers began with a bang, kicking the first major of the day through the boot of ex-Sun Peter Wright, who played 66 games for Gold Coast over six seasons until moving south in 2021.
Essendon were able to link in the centre corridor with ease, and it was again Wright who delivered the ball that would help Harrison Jones seal the club’s second goal.
Early in the first, Gold Coast’s saving grace appeared to be their defensive structure, lead by Sam Collins, before a major from Long in his milestone game sparked some fire for the home side, but they still finished the first term trailing.
Down by nine, Mac Andrew continued to build in the backline, accumulating 17 disposals and one tackle in the first half.
Playing the advantage, Long kicked his second of the day after a long high ball spilt from the hands of a one-on-one contest in front of him, to put them in front for the first time all match.
Some unorthodox football ensued – including a tunnel-ball-esque pass under the legs by Jake Stringer in a three-to-one contest – and an even match ensued until the Suns were able to take an eight-point lead into half time.
Less than two minutes into the second half, Ben King brought his side to a 14-point lead, rewarding a handy pick-up from Andrew in their defensive 50. The young defender continued adding to his highlight reel, pushing up the field to deliver a pinpoint pass to the in-form Long at the top of the 50, who nailed it with ease.
Inaccuracy became the theme of the third term for Essendon, missing a set-shot through Zach Merrett, followed by another crucial miss from Nic Martin. It took 15 minutes for Essendon to finally find some magic through the hands of Jye Caldwell, who pinged it through from around 40 metres.
What they lacked in precision, however, the Bombers did not lack in desperation, as a miracle goal was delivered by Nik Cox to again bring the game to within five-points.
Outroar from Gold Coast fans ensued as Charlie Ballard was penalised for tackling Sam Durham, whom he believed had played on when he took a delivery inside 50. A major from Durham, followed by another from Menzie, saw People First Stadium come alive as the match lifted to 67-all.
The final moments were a seesawing affair, with both sides providing equal elation and heartbreak for their supporters. A wayward set shot from Stringer placed the game in the hands of the Suns, before Matt Guelfi took them to just five behind with two and a half minutes remaining. But, it was a 50-metre penalty dealt for not returning the ball to the correct player which nailed Essendon’s coffin.
The Bombers now turn their attention to a stretch of matches against top eight contenders, starting with the Blues before a bye, while Gold Coast head to Marvel Stadium to take on St Kilda.
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE FAVOURS THE VISITORS
A controversial goal through Nick Hind helped Essendon build momentum in the third term, but it will likely etch a greater mark over the match. Ned Moyle claimed to have touched Hind’s goal, instantly raising his hands to the umpires to suggest a goal-review, but his calls were left unanswered as the officials deemed there was insufficient evidence to prove his case.
MILESTONE MAN’S CAREER-BEST
In his 100th AFL game, Ben Long notched a career high goal-haul with four goals across the evening, along with 13 disposals and four marks. Along with King, Long provided a pivotal target within 50 for the home side, and his accuracy didn’t lack.
GOLD COAST: 2.2, 6.4, 9.6, 14.7 (91)
ESSENDON: 3.5, 4.8, 6.13, 11.14 (80)
GOALS
Suns: B Long 4, B Humphry, B King 4, B Ainsworth, J Lukosius 2, T Berry, T Miller
Bombers: P Wright, H Jones, J Kelly, N Cox 3, J Caldwell,
N Hind, S Durham, J Menzie, M Guelfi
BEST
Suns: Andrew, Collins, Long, Walter, King, Berry, Miller
Bombers: Merrett, Cox, Hind, Martin, Heppell
Crowd attendance: 21, 759
Originally published as Essendon coach Brad Scott to seek answers after players ‘bewildered’ by umpiring decisions
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