‘It’s all a facade’: Tom Papley takes flamethrower to Essendon in brutal AFL takedown

Sydney Swans livewire Tom Papley has slammed Essendon’s “facade” in a savage takedown of the club following their heated clash.

Tom Papley has slammed Essendon's tactics.

Tom Papley has taken a flamethrower to Essendon, accusing the Bombers of resorting to off the ball tactics during Sydney’s 30-point win on Saturday night.

The two teams were neck and neck in the first half before the Swans ran away with a 19.17 (131) to 15.11 (101) victory at the SCG.

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Tensions boiled over after Essendon forward Peter Wright knocked out Sydney’s Harry Cunningham in a clumsy collision early in the game.

A scuffle between opposing players in the second quarter could well have exploded into a brawl had it not been for Essendon runner and ex-Collingwood star Travis Cloke intervening.

Papley was one of Sydney’s best, kicking four goals from 24 disposals while the midfield trio of Isaac Heeney, Errol Gulden and Chad Warner all hit the scoreboard.

Papley said there was “no love lost” between the Swans and Bombers and described Essendon coach Brad Scott’s mantra of playing on the edge as a “facade”.

Harry Cunningham gets collected by Peter Wright. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

Peter Wright will likely be suspended. Photo: 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 told 3AW.

“They were still getting into us. You can be tough and do all that stuff, but you’ve still got to be able to play four quarters.

“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.”

Tom Papley says Essendon’s tactics were a “facade”. Photo: Phil Hillyard

The Swans got the win. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

The Swans livewire was most aggrieved by Wright’s hit on Cunningham and ruckman Sam Draper falling into Jake Lloyd in the second quarter — which gifted the Swans a goal from the ensuing 50m penalty.

While some welcomed Papley’s candid comments, others pointed out he has a history of off the ball incidents himself, including when he elbowed Collingwood’s Nick Daicos last year.

Tom Papley 👏🏼 👏🏼for saying what he truly thinks in three separate interviews tonight.

Adds spice, opinion, personality to the game. More of this please.

Ess v Syd… Rd 23 🍿 @FootyonNine

— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) March 23, 2024

Brad Scott defended Wright as a fair player after the game.

“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 ballplayer, always has been, since he was a kid.”

There was plenty of spite between the Swans and Bombers. Photo: Phil Hillyard

Former Geelong captain Cameron Ling expected Wright to be suspended for “weeks”.

“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,” Ling said on Channel 7.

“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.”

The 30-point victory sees the Swans start the season 3-0, while Essendon are 1-1 as they enter another season desperate to win a final for the first time since 2004.

Originally published as ‘It’s all a facade’: Tom Papley takes flamethrower to Essendon in brutal AFL takedown