Essendon coach Brad Scott affirms that the club has not instructed Sam Draper to withdraw from his podcast following the ruckman’s recent discipline for remarks aimed at a rival coach. Despite Draper’s uncertain status for Saturday’s match against GWS due to a knee concern, Scott emphasizes the continued encouragement for Draper to maintain a visible presence in the public domain.
Scott expressed disappointment with Draper’s comments regarding Luke Beveridge’s future on his 200 Plus podcast, deemed “bizarre” by the Bulldogs coach considering Draper’s affiliation with another club. However, Scott refutes claims of the club intervening to suspend Draper from the podcast, highlighting the importance of Draper’s engagement in media and public representation of the club.
Acknowledging Draper’s response to the incident, Scott underscores his importance to the team but notes his ongoing battle with a knee issue, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming match against the Giants at Marvel Stadium.
While Scott is confident in Jye Caldwell’s participation following his calf injury, he remains uncertain about Draper’s readiness, emphasizing the need for him to be close to full fitness before considering selection.
Scott mentions the team’s preparation for the upcoming clash against the Giants, indicating a focus on improvement and minimal review of previous encounters, such as the heavy defeat to the Giants in round 23 last year.
Additionally, Scott discusses the potential return of key defender Zach Reid to VFL action after a lengthy absence due to hamstring injury, emphasizing the importance of his gradual return to match fitness and his ability to play without concern for his body’s condition.
