AFL 2025: Essendon coach Brad Scott says the MCG phone issue is ‘no excuse’ for Anzac Day fade out

Essendon coach Brad Scott stopped short of blaming the telecommunications issue at the MCG for the Bombers’ fade out on Anzac Day and will not make any adjustments in response to the issue.

Essendon coach Brad Scott says he won’t swap coaching from the coaches’ box for the interchange despite the telecommunication collapse at the MCG on Anzac Day.

Scott post-game claimed he felt “helpless” during the third quarter when communications between the coaches’ box and the interchange went down.

Essendon had hit the front at that stage during the third quarter before it conceded 10 the next 12 goals to lose to Collingwood by 41 points.

It’s understood the issue arose after a power board was left outside in Friday’s teeming rain.

Scott says the Bombers have moved on from the issue and is surprised by the interest it generated.

“We haven’t spoken to them (the AFL), I’m not sure if they have spoken to us,” he said.

Brad Scott (centre) says the communications issue at the MCG is not an excuse for the Bombers’ fade out. (Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“Those sort of conversations are probably had at a higher level than where I sit, honestly it was something that happened but things happen.

“It didn’t overly affect us, clearly it impacted us, but when you say it impacts you it sounds like an excuse – there’s absolutely no excuse for anything.

“Ultimately, what are we going to do about it? Something happened, the powers that be sort it out and I just really don’t give it a second thought.

“I am surprised it has generated as much interest as it has, the funny bit is that it’s no one’s fault – if there was someone at fault I wouldn’t care any less.”

Collingwood coach Craig McRae, who coaches from the interchange, made contrasting comments on the issue to Scott post game.

McRae said he handed the keys to the uber-experienced Magpies playing group and let them “drive the car”.

Brian Walsh, Executive General Manager – Corporate Affairs, Government and Communications (left) and Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive Officer of the AFL speaking on the interchange during Friday’s Anzac Day match. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Scott says he won’t jump at the shadow of one issue by moving to the interchange and will treat the incident as an anomaly unless it occurs again.

“I still much prefer being in the coaches box and getting a more holistic view of the game and each coach is different, they’ve each got their priorities,” he said.

“That’s certainly the way we choose to structure it and I can’t think of a time where we’ve had a situation like that.

“It’s one out of the box, pretty rare, if it was a common occurrence we would have an issue, but I don’t see it as that.”

Originally published as AFL 2025: Essendon coach Brad Scott says the MCG phone issue is ‘no excuse’ for Anzac Day fade out