Essendon has strongly defended captain Matthew Lloyd following post-game comments by Hawthorn's Campbell Brown including that ""he is one of the biggest snipers in the game, so his time is coming.""
Football operations manager Paul Hamilton said the comments attacked Lloyd's character and were veiled threats.
""We are very dissappointed in the comments from the Hawthorn camp,"" he said.
""One, we are not happy wth the attack on the character and integrity of our captain, two the veiled threats made again Matthew, three the comments that are predjudicial to a potential tribunal hearing this week and four, the appalling set of double standards on display by Campbell Brown.
""Matthew Lloyd has had such a long and wonderful career and a strong reputation as a ball player.""
Hamilton refused to comment further on the matter saying that, unlike Hawthorn, Essendon now has a finals campaign it needs to focus on.
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Speaking to media Andrew Welsh also came to the defence of his captain saying that anyone making comments like Brown did needs to look in their own backyard first.
Meanwhile, Essendon can confirm that Mark McVeigh has suffered a small chip to a bone in his hand.
He saw a doctor last night and does not require an operation. He is still a chance to play next week against Adelaide.
