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Important update on 1476AM“Unwavering”: How Scott kept the faith at Essendon
Harry Cumming • April 16th, 2026 9:00 am
All of a sudden there seems to be some positivity and optimism around Essendon following a significant win against Melbourne last weekend.
Senior coach Brad Scott has been under fire for some time in the midst of a 17-game losing streak dating back to May last year.
Amid all the turbulence and criticism, Scott has been a “beacon of hope” according to captain Andrew McGrath.
McGrath believes the drought-breaking win against the Dees showed the foundations that have been laid by Scott for a launch back up the ladder.
“Brad's been amazing,” McGrath said on SEN Breakfast.
“I think he's really been the beacon of hope and optimism for our group.
"It can be really hard kind of preaching our same message over and over again when results aren't going your way, but Brad has been unwavering in his approach.”
There has been significant media scrutiny on the Dons with questions being raised about just how badly the side has been faring.
Scott's tenure has also been questioned.
But McGrath said that Scott has continued to back his players in during the tough times.
“He's put belief in us, we've believed in what we're doing all the way through, even through the really hard moments around that Port Adelaide game where the road out seemed difficult,” Scott said.
“But Brad's been a beacon of inspiration and he's kept his coaching philosophy is really simple.
“He's inspired us to do our jobs on the weekend and I’m really happy for him that we were able to show some evidence that we're definitely heading in the right direction.”
McGrath also spoke to Garry Lyon and Tim Watson about the excitement surrounding the emergence of a young crop of superstars who were taken in last year’s draft.
He singled out one who excites him the most.
“They're all very, very exciting and talented,” he added
“I think the one that I've worked really closely with is Jacob Farrow down back.
“He reminds me a lot of many different players, but he reminds me a lot of a young Jordan Ridley, just with his composure, his calmness.
“You forget sometimes that he's 18, like the head on his shoulders is unbelievable.
Having experienced an interrupted pre-season, top draft pick Sullivan Robey made his debut against Melbourne and had an impressive start with glimpses of the damaging midfielder he threatens to become.
“He obviously was struck down with a back injury pretty early on, so I think he did 11 trainings with us,” McGrath said on Robey’s first pre-season.
“We loved what we saw, and then he was struck down for a couple of months there but just seeing him move around the VFL the last couple of weeks, and then bring that form into the AFL, he moves exactly like Luke (Davies-Uniacke).
“I think Sullivan can be right up there with the very best. His size, his physicality, and even his calmness on the weekend.
“Like, he had a few moments that wouldn't have been noticed on the screen, but just showed great maturity, he was able to fit right into our system, bring the energy, and he definitely didn't look like an 18-year-old out there.”
There’s definitely plenty to like about the youth at the Bombers, but it doesn’t get any easier for Scott and his men who travel to the sunshine state this weekend to take on Gold Coast at People First Stadium this Saturday at 1:15pm AEST.
