AFL 2025: Essendon coach Brad Scott hits back at scrutiny towards marquee defender Ben McKay

Essendon coach Brad Scott has hit back at Ben McKay’S critics, particularly the scrutiny from a club and AFL legend.

Essendon coach Brad Scott has jumped to the defence of Ben McKay, labelling criticism of the backman “unfair”.

AFL legend Matthew Lloyd was scathing of McKay’s performance against Hawthorn after he tallied just one disposal in the first half and regularly fumbled in the second half.

“You get him to the club hoping he’s a Steven May, Jacob Weitering, Sam Taylor type of player,” Lloyd said on Footy Classified.

“What Hawthorn did really well is they don’t bomb the ball, so he had no way of impacting … unless the ball is being bombed in and he can mark the footy.

“I don’t think he provides anything like the key defenders do at other teams.”

Essendon coach Brad Scott has hit back at scrutiny towards marquee defender Ben McKay. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

McKay has been the source of criticism since he left North Melbourne to take a deal front-loaded in excess of $1.2m.

When asked how McKay would win back the trust of Essendon fans, Scott leapt to his player’s defence.

Scott said McKay’s role was not to change external opinions and called the level of scrutiny unfair.

“Well, that won’t be his focus, his focus will just be on what we value,” he said.

“We know Ben as a very capable player and he’s a very important of our structure, and look Hawthorn challenged that and put him in positions he’s not used to being in.

“I get the scrutiny on the game is greater than it’s ever been, but if you’re going to single out one player, I think it’s unfair.

“But it’s not going to change, is it? It’s going to happen every week.”

Originally published as AFL 2025: Essendon coach Brad Scott hits back at scrutiny towards marquee defender Ben McKay