Essendon Coach Criticizes GWS for “Desperate” Tactics
Essendon coach Brad Scott has made it clear that he was unimpressed with a pre-game banner used by the GWS Giants, calling the club “desperate for relevance.” The banner, which was displayed before the match at ENGIE Stadium, took a jab at Essendon’s long-standing finals drought and their involvement in the controversial ‘whiteboardgate’ incident.
The banner featured a mock-up of a whiteboard with two columns labeled “strengths” and “weaknesses.” While the “strengths” column had no entries, the “weaknesses” section listed “7916 days,” referencing Essendon’s 7916-day wait for a finals appearance. This number dates back to their last post-season win, a 2004 elimination final against Melbourne.
The gimmick also alluded to a leaked photo of Brisbane’s whiteboard, which had previously categorized Essendon’s strengths and weaknesses, including a humorous note about former Lion Jaxon Prior’s strength being his long-time girlfriend.
Scott initially dismissed the situation as “interesting for (other) people,” but later offered a more pointed critique of GWS. He said, “I did catch it out of the corner of my eye. I mean, the Giants are pretty desperate for some relevance in the competition, to try and build their fan base.”
This comment comes as GWS faces its own challenges, particularly with leadership changes and questions about its identity. The club’s inaugural chief executive, Dave Matthews, will step down at the end of the season, and there are ongoing discussions about a potential name change.
Despite surpassing 30,000 members this year, GWS believes the “Greater Western Sydney” name still lacks recognition in the region after 15 seasons. The club unofficially dropped the full name in 2018, opting to be known simply as the “GIANTS,” although they are still referred to as GWS Giants by the AFL.
The future of the AFL club in western Sydney—home to an estimated population of nearly three million—has been questioned this year. In April, AFL great Gerard Healy wrote in an SEN article that only 97 boys from the 14 clubs in the region had signed up for 13-and-under football so far this season.
Scott tied up his criticism with a strong statement on the importance of growing the game in key regions. “I’m just such a strong proponent of building our game in the northern states, in western Sydney and on the Gold Coast,” he said. “That’s really important for the AFL—I’m reluctant to sort of comment on other clubs, but yeah, they make their decisions, we’ll make ours.”
Essendon is set to return home to face a formidable Fremantle side aiming to match the club’s record of nine consecutive wins. However, the Bombers will be without their standout draftee, Dyson Sharp, who suffered a shoulder injury in the third quarter against the Giants.
Scott remains uncertain about Sharp’s return timeline, suggesting a potential four-to-six-week recovery period or even surgery. “Well, he thinks he’ll play next week. I don’t think that’s right, but that’s just the way he is,” Scott joked.
