David King isn't a fan of the rhetoric coming out of Essendon coach Brad Scott this week.
So much so, King even hopes Scott uses his post-match press conference on Saturday to clear up any and all confusion.
Ahead of the Bombers’ clash with Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon at the MCG, Scott spoke to SEN on Wednesday about his expectations for 2024.
“In a tight competition we never want to put a ceiling on what we are capable of achieving, but it won’t be sacrificing the stability and culture we’re trying to build over the long term,” was among the comments uttered by the Bombers mentor.
It’s a sentiment that appeared to ease expectations on Essendon in 2024 and came with curious timing given that several Bombers have previously declared they’re ready to play finals and become a consistent side.
Scott has also previously hinted at poor standards at Tullamarine prior to him joining the club, and King questioned why it will take so long to undo others’ mistakes.
“This is what hits me hard. For how long were they so poor that they’re so far off the mark?” King said on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“With intelligent, reasonable people at the head of all programs there… how far off the pace were they for Brad to be saying this is an alarm for me.
“And where are those people? Are they still there? If you’re purging players or challenging players because of these standards, surely, they have to go as well.
“That was the thing that really hit me. But I just don’t like the messaging. People have come at me hard… I don’t know if I’ve heard a coach be so accepting that they’re not challenging to drive up the ladder in an impatient fashion.
“I think he needs to correct that, hopefully it’s as quickly as today.”
King added: “I just feel like they’ve been accepting it’s going to take this period… if you keep telling people they’ll be no good, they'll be no good.”
Essendon played finals in 2021 and 2019 but hasn’t stood up on the big stage of finals in over two decades.
In the 2023 pre-season, much of the playing group went to Ibiza on a holiday in the off-season. Last year, 15 Bombers went on a training camp to Arizona to signify a change in attitude.
But it will account to little if Essendon can’t make it count in the wins column.
Meanwhile, Whateley questioned whether Essendon’s expectations are being portrayed differently inside and outside the club.
“I’m so interested in the difference between the internal and external… whether there is one,” Whateley offered.
“Clearly it’s been an appropriately demanding summer around standards and culture. I think it’s pretty obvious Brad was appalled by the way they were living it and has overhauled that dramatically.
“But if you keep saying we’re not expecting anything this year… I wonder what they’re saying inside the four walls.”
At half-time of Saturday's contest, Essendon leads 7.3 (45) - 5.11 (41) after two quicks goals to end the second quarter.