Bombers coach slams star over 'disrespectful' comments

Brad Scott has slammed Sam Draper’s recent comments on a podcast, describing the Essendon star’s appearance on the show as “the furthest thing from funny”.

The 25-year-old made waves during the week after he claimed on the 200+ podcast that players from Western Bulldogs would leave if head coach Luke Beveridge remained at the club beyond this season.

Draper was criticised by many within the AFL throughout the week and despite missing the Bombes’ win over West Coast on Saturday night, his name was still at the centre of discussion in Scott’s post-match press conference.

“I was really disappointed in Sam,” the coach said.

“He thought he was in an environment where he thought he was being funny and I said, ‘Mate, it’s the furthest thing from funny. It’s disrespectful’.

“Our club has had to fight extremely hard for a long period of time to earn respect back in this competition, and that’s just one thing that eats away at that.

“I was really disappointed in him.”

Draper missed the match against the Eagles due to a minor knee complaint, with Scott reiterating his off-field indiscretion had no bearing on the team selection.

“It’s not about hanging him out to dry,” he said.

“But he knows that he did the wrong thing. [It was] absolutely not the reason why he didn’t play. We would have loved to have had him tonight.

“I was just really, really disappointed that we’ve taken so many steps forward in earning respect that we gave a bit back.”

Essendon registered their fifth win of the year against West Coast, moving into fifth spot on the ladder, and will take on GWS in round nine.

Draper is touch and go for the clash with the Giants as Scott conceded the club needed to “break the cycle” in regards to the ruckman pushing through fitness concerns.