Tom Papley slams Bombers’ ‘facade’ as Essendon’s Peter Wright in hot water after big hit

Sydney forward Tom Papley has unloaded on the Bombers’ ‘facade’, accusing Brad Scott’s men of targeting the Swans behind the play after Essendon’s Peter Wright’s big hit on Harry Cunningham.

Tom Papley fends off Nick Hind. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Essendon’s physicality has been described as a “facade” by Tom Papley, who accused the Bombers of “hitting us behind the play” in an explosive postscript to what was a brutal round 2 match.

Papley said Bomber Peter Wright was “obviously going to have a nice holiday” after he left Harry Cunningham concussed and, according to Papley, suffering memory loss following a heavy collision in the first quarter.

Wright faces a possible trip to the tribunal after Cunningham was stretchered off the SCG in what was the first moment of spice during a heated battle.

Papley said in a halftime interview: “They’re trying to get after us, it’s all off the ball”.

Tom Papley fends off Nick Hind. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

The star goalkiker then let rip after Sydney’s 30-point win.

“You can be tough and do all that stuff, but you’ve still got to be able to play four quarters,” Papley said.

“They were hitting us behind the play and things like that. They’re trying to do that stuff and I don’t know if it’s them or not.

“Brad Scott came out and said it’s the Essendon way, but … anyway I won’t go into it.

“You can pretend to be tough, but you’ve still got to win the ball and win the game.

“It’s all a facade I think, but anyway.”

Asked about the hits behind play, Papley told 3AW: “Just down the field free kicks, (Sam) Draper on (Jake) Lloyd, things like that”.

Draper conceded a 50m penalty that gifted Sydney a goal during the second quarter after collapsing into Lloyd late in a marking contest.

Swan Isaac Heeney told Fox Footy there was “no love lost” between the sides and said the Swans spoke at halftime about whether Essendon could go with them for the entire contest.

Papley reiterated that on Channel 7.

Sydney's Harry Cunningham stretchered off after high hit from Essendon's Peter Wright. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

“They really gave it to us. Brad Scott came out and said they want to have that Essendon edge and Peter Wright took it a bit too far,” Papley said.

“They were still getting into us. We all love footy being tough, but you’ve got to do it for four quarters.”

At one stage Essendon’s runner, Travis Cloke, ran through a scuffle to try and stop Bombers players including Nik Cox from remonstrating. Cloke could be issued a please explain from the AFL for engaging in the incident.

The spiteful clash was a long way from 2022 when Swan Luke Parker taunted Bomber Dylan Shiel by shrugging his shoulders in an attempt to question Shiel’s toughness.

The Bombers will host Sydney at Marvel Stadium in round 23 in what now shapes as a mouth-watering rematch.

Scott described Wright as a fair player.

“I can’t comment on issues that might be before the MRO,” Scott said.

“The only thing I can say, and I won’t talk about the incident, is that Peter Wright is a well known ball player, always has been, since he was a kid.”

WRIGHT IN HOT WATER OVER BIG HIT

The clash between the Swans and Bombers has stopped for more than five minutes early in the opening term following a sickening head knock to Harry Cunningham.

The Swans defender had set himself to take a mark on the wing when he was collected high by Essendon forward Peter Wright.

Wright came from more than 15 metres away and left the ground but never made a genuine attempt for the ball. He turned in the air with his shoulder making contact with Cunningham’s head.

Peter Wright collides with Harry Cunningham at the SCG in an incident which will be looked at by the match review panel. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Cunningham was left motionless on the ground for a couple of minutes with Sydney trainers immediately calling for the stretcher. The 30-year-old was eventually able to get to his feet and walked down into the Swans’ rooms unassisted.

Wright is set to come under heavy scrutiny by the AFL Tribunal for the incident, with former Geelong captain Cameron Ling believing the Essendon forward will be hit with a suspension of at least two weeks.

“I don’t think it’s going to matter what you’re talking about it being a football act and a play on the ball,” Ling said on Channel 7.

Swans players wrestle with Peter Wright of the Bombers after his collision with Harry Cunningham. Picture: Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

“The way everything shifted over the off-season following the incident with Brayden Maynard, I don’t think the AFL is going to care if it’s a football act or not.

“I think they’re going to put the responsibility onto Peter Wright there and say he turned, bumped and got a player in the head and concussed him.

“I think he’s going to end up with a big case to answer for.

“I am (expecting several weeks) because of the shift in the off-season. I think when you go back to last year, they made a decision around Maynard that he gets off with a football act trying to smother and then the contact was after.

“I think it’ll be different this time around and he’ll get weeks.”

Cunningham was subbed out of the game immediately for Corey Warner who was playing his first game of the season.

Essendon Coach Brad Scott has refused to comment on the incident.

“You can ask the question but you know I can’t answer” he said post-match.

“I can’t comment on issues that might be before the MRO.”

“The only thing I can say, and I won’t talk about the incident, is that Peter Wright is a well known ball player, always has been, since he was a kid.”

Originally published as Tom Papley slams Bombers’ ‘facade’ as Essendon’s Peter Wright in hot water after big hit