Brad Scott blasts umpires after Gold Coast defeat plucky Essendon by 41 points

Essendon coach Brad Scott has delivered a scathing review of the umpires after a collision involving Nate Caddy during their 41-point loss to Gold Coast.

Tyler Lewis and Matthew Forrest

5 min read

2:05PMJuly 05, 2025.

Updated 12:04AMJuly 06, 2025

News Sport Network

Essendon coach Brad Scott delivered a scathing review of the umpires after the collision involving Bombers’ forward Nate Caddy.

Caddy was streaming forward during Essendon’s 41-point loss to Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon when he crashed into the umpire.

The emerging forward, who kicked three goals, was not seriously injured in the accident but needed 15 minutes to get his breath back.

The incident comes just days after the AFL introduced potential suspension to players who repeatedly make contact with the officiators.

Nate Caddy runs into an umpire during the game

Scott launched a stern defence of Caddy when asked if he thought the collision could spell match review panel.

“I’ve lost count of the amount of times I have contacted the AFL about moving the umpires out of the corridor (middle of the ground),” Scott said.

“They sprint into the corridor and they stay there – and that’s clearly where we want to get the ball.

“Even when I was at the AFL I tried to move them out of the corridor and they still wouldn’t move out of the corridor.

“We’ve been at them and at them and at them to move out of the corridor and the last response I had from Steve McBurney (umpires chief) was, ‘Just pretend they’re invisible’.

“Well, he wasn’t invisible and unfortunately it took the wind out of Nate Caddy, it took 15 minutes to get him going again.

“Whose fault is it? Certainly not Nate Caddy’s. And particularly given we put this on the agenda to move the umpires out of the corridor and they refuse to do it.”

Nate Caddy checks on field umpire Robert O'Gorman after the collision. Picture: Getty Images

Essendon won the free kick count but should have had another in a high tackle free kick to first-season forward Angus Clarke.

Scott doubled down on his review of the umpires, saying the reason the fourth umpire was introduced was to gain clarity on both sides of the contest.

“Not only that, the arc then tells our doctor to check on the umpire and assess the umpire,” he said.

“And it’s Nate Caddy’s fault? I don’t expect him to have anything to answer for that.

“Part of the reason for the four umpires was so they didn’t get blind sighted, so you can have an umpire on each side of the contest.

“Angus Clarke clearly got taken high in the forward 50, the umpire is on the other side and pays holding the ball.

“Now that happens but the reason we have four is so the umpire on the other side of the contest can see it and it would make sense if the umpire was on four quadrants on the outside.

“But they insist on running into the corridor and they’re coached that way, then we have a player collide and it’s the player’s fault.”

The Suns were just too good for the Dons. Picture: Getty Images

BABY BOMBERS OUTLASTED BY FAST-FINISHING SUNS

A fast-finishing Suns outfit has booted six goals to none to hold off a plucky Essendon outfit at Marvel Stadium.

But the Bombers looked to snatch victory away from the Suns in a three-minute, three-goal blitz from third-gamer Archie May, who handed Essendon the lead in the third quarter.

Ultimately it was barely a contest as the Suns booted away, kicking six goals to just one Essendon point in the final term, Gold Coast winning 18.7 (115) to 11.8 (74).

It was shaped as an important fixture for the Suns in the race for a top-eight spot as nine teams will end round 17 with at least 10 wins.

The victory means Gold Coast will end round 17 inside the top eight, with another game against Essendon to come at the end of the season.

Archer May has THREE goals in THREE minutes ðŸ˜®#AFLDonsSuns pic.twitter.com/L7moaIzJYi
— AFL (@AFL) July 5, 2025

MAY DAY

It was a dream three-minute patch for Archie May.

The mid-season draftee, playing just his third game, had barely been sighted in the first half.

He had three touches and three tackles in the opening two quarters, but he came alive in the third term.

It started with a sizzling dart in the corridor from Sam Durham, hitting May on the chest about 40m out from goal.

Archer May enjoys one of his three goals in the third term. Picture: Getty Images

At the next stoppage Andy McGrath kicked it to May, who earned the free kick after high contact from Oscar Adams. He converted from 50m.

Two minutes later there was a forward-50 stoppage. May soccered the loose ball off the turf and converted his third goal for the quarter, putting Essendon ahead by two points.

He finished with the three majors, pairing with Nate Caddy who also booted three goals.

MERRETT THE MIDFIELDER

Coach Brad Scott said during the week he would inject his skipper back into the midfield, and he was true to his word.

Merrett was back to his ball-winning best, collecting 22 touches in the first half on the way to leading the game with 40 disposals and 12 clearances.

He was left unattended for most of the game, at times lining up on opposing skipper Noah Anderson in a true midfield shootout.

Merrett has been shifted across the ground in recent weeks, lining up off the half back flank and at times running around the forward 50, but the return of Sam Durham and Jordan Ridley meant his time was spent more solely in the engine room.

Joel Jeffrey played his best game yet. Picture: Getty Images

JOEL’S CAREER-DAY OUT

It was a career-best performance in a career-best season for Joel Jeffrey, who has quietly blossomed under Damien Hardwick.

At the end of his third season in the AFL, Jeffrey was floundering as a 16-game forward who was averaging less than 10 touches and under a goal per game.

But Hardwick swung him into defence, allowing Jeffrey to use his running power and athleticism, as well as his strong ball use, and he has subsequently turned into a hybrid defender.

Jeffrey was best afield against Essendon, surpassing the 30-disposal milestone for the first time on his way to a 32-disposal performance.

He also reeled in 10 marks, eight intercept possessions, eight rebound 50s, seven inside 50s and six score involvements, as well as sneaking forward for a long-ranged goal.

UMPIRE CONTACT

Matt Rowell was given warnings throughout the week after the AFL issued a reminder that repeated umpire contact could warrant a suspension.

The midfield bull came close on a number of occasions throughout the contest, flirting with danger at times as he tried to break free from attention during the contest.

But it was a rather oblivious Nate Caddy who came off second best when he ran straight into an umpire in open play.

His eyes were on the ball and he careened straight into the side of a field umpire, who bounced up and continued following the play.

Caddy was left doubled over, winded and in pain for the following minutes, but he played out the game.