Often one of the AFL’s harshest critics, Essendon coach Brad Scott has staunchly defended league boss Andrew Dillon.

Fresh off attending a dinner with Dillon, AFL football boss Laura Kane, and three other coaches - including his twin brother Chris - Scott was full of praise for headquarters.

“It was probably the best AFL meeting I can recall,” the Bombers coach said on Tuesday.

“There were clearly a lot of things to talk about, and I really felt that Andrew Dillon, in particular, with his staff, really listened to all the agenda items that the coaches had.

“I suppose the challenge from here is what action is taken from this point.

“But in terms of Andrew, in particular, the AFL’s willingness to listen and for the coaches’ voices to be heard, I thought was really positive.”

When asked about the AFL’s handling of the Willie Rioli saga and the bungled investigation into Lachie Schultz’s concussion, Scott again backed up Dillon.

“I’ve got the utmost faith and confidence in Andrew Dillon’s capability to do the job,” said Scott, who previously worked as the AFL’s football boss before becoming Essendon coach at the end of 2022.

“I think he’s an exceptional administrator.

“I’ve seen first-hand how talented he is.

“He’s in a very difficult role where you’re going to be faced with really difficult decisions, and you’ve got to make decisions that are going to be unpopular at times.

“You’ll go through cycles where you make some mistakes and you own those mistakes and move forward.

“In terms of the calibre of people we have leading the game, the AFL executive and the commission, I think we’re very well placed.”

The Scott twins have been fierce in their commentary over AFL issues such as the coaching soft cap and match review decisions.

North Melbourne’s Alastair Clarkson and Melbourne’s Simon Goodwin were also at the dinner, held at the Builders Arms Hotel in Fitzroy.

Brad Scott said the soft cap was high on the meeting agenda, but also discussed was academies, talents pathways, and how to boost Indigenous player numbers in the AFL.

“It’s not just funding football departments, there are a lot of AFL priorities and objectives that they’ve got to fulfil,” he said.

“I certainly feel, and was very clear, in my own personal opinion, that football departments have been placed pretty low on the priority list in terms of AFL expenditure.”

Dillon intends to meet with all 18 coaches across various catch-ups during the season.

His predecessor, Gillon McLachlan, used to host all senior coaches at his house for an annual dinner.