Hale was considered a chance to return after a stint in the VFL after young key position player Robbie Tarrant injured his thumb in last weekend’s win against Richmond.
But Scott said that although Hale is definitely in the best 22 on talent alone, his forward line doesn't have room for the 2008 club leading goalkicker.
“We are experimenting a little bit with our best forward mix [end] we have to work out exactly what the best forward line is for us long term," Scott said at Arden St on Thursday.
“I don’t have an answer in terms of our ideal structure because I’m still experimenting with it and trying to find out exactly the right mix," Scott said on Thursday.
“Haley’s a past first-round draft pick and has kicked eight goals against Geelong who are the best side going around in the competition.”
With ruck duo Hamish McIntosh and Todd Goldstein in solid form, Hale has been unable to force his way back into the senior side since returning to the Roos’ VFL affiliate North Ballarat a month ago.
The Kangaroos face an under-siege Bomber outfit this weekend, and Scott says he is wary of a team in the spotlight.
“Just because Essendon's [been] under pressure doesn’t mean that we go into the game with a four-goal head start.
"The start is just as important this week as it is any week.”
With a top-eight spot beckoning, Scott believes that this week’s match is vital for the club in its quest to make a return to finals action after missing out in 2009.
“We can really give ourselves a chance to compete in September if we win it,” he said.
“It’s really important that our intensity is right early, because Essendon this year have shown with some of the calibre of team’s they’ve beaten that they are an extremely good side.”
