NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott has spoken again of the difficult week endured by all involved in the Chris Judd and Jack Ziebell Tribunal appearances, saying the AFL in particular was feeling "very sensitive".
Ziebell received a four-match suspension on Tuesday night, sparking Twitter outbursts and a memorable media conference staged by Scott at Aegis Park on Thursday.
Judd was banned for four weeks for rough conduct on Kangaroo Leigh Adams after his now infamous 'chicken wing tackle' case was referred directly to the AFL Tribunal by the Match Review Panel.
That prompted Judd's manager, Paul Connors, to question whether the AFL had interfered with the Match Review Panel and Tribunal process.
Connors has since apologised for the outburst.
"Clearly the AFL are very sensitive at the moment. We saw that during the week with Adrian Anderson's response to Paul Connors," Scott said on AFL.com.au's Access All Areas.
"In Adrian's case he was criticised unfairly.
"My attitude with AFL footy, if you can't handle criticism, whether it's true or false, or whether it's unfounded, you're in the wrong industry."
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Scott said that criticism was part of the job description for any high-profile football identity. "AFL coaches, in their view, are probably criticised unfairly all the time," he said.
"[But] I can't recall an AFL coach ringing their lawyer to pursue a defamation claim against someone for criticising them."
He revealed that he sought direction from the AFL communications department about what he could say before unleashing his frustrations on Thursday over Ziebell's suspension, saying he was told he could be critical of the Tribunal outcome while not overstepping the mark.
"I'd hate to think we're going to get so pedantic and so sensitive that we're going to get lawyers involved every time someone says something you don't like," he said.
In a conversation with co-host (and his coach at the Brisbane Lions, Leigh Matthews), Scott took the opportunity to again outline his concerns over the direction of the game if a player can be suspended for following directions and making the ball his objective.
"At all levels of football, coaches should be teaching their players to keep eyes on the ball and genuinely contest the ball," he said.
Scott also discussed North's improved form and the club's discussions with uncontracted Port Adelaide midfielder Travis Boak.
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