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FWC on Sport Nation guideCornes: Is there any more that Brad Scott could have done?
Jaiden Sciberras • June 29th, 2026 5:08 pm
Was there any more that Brad Scott could have done with this Essendon list?
That’s the question Kane Cornes is considering amid the club’s continued run of dire form.
After relieving Scott of his duties four weeks ago, the Bombers’ struggles have far from eased, with interim coach Dean Solomon unable to pick up a result despite a favourable run of fixtures.
Sacked following Essendon’s loss to Richmond, the Bombers have since lost by five goals to West Coast, five points to Carlton, 45 points to Melbourne and most recently, 14 points to North Melbourne.
While the board’s decision to sack Scott was certainly made in the interest of the club’s long-term future, Cornes can’t help but wonder if the club’s inability to compete this season was any fault of Scott's at all.
“Their results since Brad was sacked – it was Round 11, after Richmond, that he was sacked,” Cornes told SEN Breakfast.
“Loss to West Coast, loss to Carlton, loss to Melbourne, loss to North Melbourne. There were at least three of the four really winnable games in there. What does that say?
“I was noting their game style yesterday; they took a million uncontested marks… 120 uncontested marks for 40 entries.
“Clearly, he has tried to shit the ball off the line and open up the open side of the ground, but what that allowed North Melbourne to do, who are a poor defensive side, is get back, delay the game and defend.
“They’ve kept Essendon to nine goals, and this is a poor defensive side in North Melbourne.
“Are we all open to the fact that there wasn’t a whole lot more Brad could have done, and sacking Brad Scott wasn’t the panacea of decisions that it was (made out to be)?
“Compare that to Carlton and the run that they’ve gone on since the new coach… there’s been nothing really new out of Essendon since Brad got sacked.”
Sat rock bottom with just one win from their 15 games this season, the Bombers will next face St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.
