Why vocal Cats fans are against Scott extension
Chris Scott's new contract is imminent. Toby Prime holds his feet close to the fire
Chris Scott is a premiership coach at Geelong.
He is also poised to become the Cats’ longest-serving coach on the back of a reported two-year extension.
Typically, those achievements would endear you to the fans for a lifetime. So why is it that the tide of public opinion appears to be against the man poised to break Reg Hickey’s record for most games coached at Kardinia Park?
That grand final victory was over a decade ago, and it would seem many supporters have fatigued of Scott.
The criticism was spun as a “loud minority” of fans by former chief Brian Cook in 2019. But if Scott has his supporters among the rank and file, how come the anti-Scott sentiment, publicly at least, clearly outweighs those supporting the decision to recontract him?
When Scott was quizzed about the record during the 2020 finals series, he labelled the criticism as “lazy”.
Fans would feel like they have been taken for a ride at selection and with vague injury updates. Consider that Shaun Higgins, medical sub for Geelong’s first final against Port Adelaide last year, was “managed” for the following match against Greater Western Sydney.
Managed! Players aren’t – or at least shouldn’t be – managed in finals. They are either dropped or injured.
Or consider that ahead of the preliminary final, Scott declared the team had been confirmed behind closed doors but refused to publicly declare the ins and outs until the Thursday night release. Why would he not confirm the final 22 if the selectors had settled on the side? Would it be to avoid questioning from the press about who was selected and who was overlooked?
Another theory is that perhaps Scott was keeping his cards close to his chest to keep Melbourne guessing. As it was, Zach Guthrie, sadly a whipping boy for the fans, was recalled, which was again roundly criticised on social media.
It was later revealed Guthrie’s selection was a point of dispute between Scott and assistant Matthew Scarlett, who, it was reported, felt he had to leave the club because of tension between him and his superior.
That grand final victory was over a decade ago, and it would seem many supporters have fatigued of Scott.
Scott even said at one point last year that he was not as transparent with injury updates as he could be.
After the final-round loss to Melbourne, he said Patrick Dangerfield had come down with a stomach bug midway through the game. It would later be revealed he sustained a nasty hand injury, which he carried through the finals.
It’s a given that clubs would want to guard some information, but to provide misleading answers on the health of players, or when they are expected to return, would rightly frustrate supporters.
And what about the disappointing finals record, which stands at 7-15 since the 2011 premiership?
When Scott was quizzed about the record during the 2020 finals series, he labelled the criticism as “lazy”.
Remember, it’s always the hallmark of the great coaches that they can get their sides to play their best football when it’s all to play for.
So why is it that in four of the past five seasons Geelong’s lowest scores have come in the first week of finals (in the one year – 2020 – it wasn’t; it was Geelong’s third-lowest score of the season). It’s preliminary final score of 8.12 (60) in 2016 was also a season-low.
And this is the man Geelong wants to re-sign - a coach that has a significantly worse record in finals compared to home-and-away? It’s all become a bit same-old, same-old for the Cats.
And what about the disappointing finals record, which stands at 7-15 since the 2011 premiership?
Many would suggest the game plan, defined by uncontested marks and possession retention, hasn’t changed and has collapsed in the September cauldron when teams typically apply white-hot pressure.
Consider that Melbourne’s pressure rating of 223 in the first quarter of the preliminary final was its season-high and Geelong’s marks (six) and kicking efficiency (41 per cent) were season lows.
There’s been suggestions of game plan tweaks in 2022. Maybe the brains trust has identified a need for a different approach?
Scott’s supporters would point to his ability to keep Geelong in the mix. His regular-season strike rate is the most of any coach in the game’s history (for those to have coached more than 100 games), which Scott reminded us of in a video on the club’s website in September 2020.
“Smarter people than me have said to me for a long time – people that have been in the game, involved in the game a long time – that if you can find a way to win 70 per cent of your games, you’re just an outstanding success,” Scott said.
Selection in finals over many years has also infuriated supporters. Remember when Dan Menzel was strangely dropped for the first final in 2017, this when he was the club’s third leading goalkicker that year?
Remember when Tom Hawkins, managing a persistent back injury, was dumped for the first final in 2013 against Fremantle when he had played every game that year?
Many have also not forgotten Paul Chapman started as the medical sub in that same fixture in a milestone match.
Remember when we were told Rhys Stanley was a late out – how predictable – because of forecast rain for the qualifying final against Collingwood that same year but it was later revealed he had been told of his omission during the week?
And last year it took until the second week of finals for under-performing forward Luke Dahlhaus to be dropped.
It’s why Scott will need another flag in 2022; otherwise it will be another season lost and the discontent among the fans will only grow.
You also have to wonder how much we can trust the coach in his press conferences when on one occasion last year he offered up that he doesn’t take in much football media, but in response to a question about stagnant ball movement, he gave a clip to the ex-key forwards who had called for zippier play.
Maybe, too, the constant trading for older players has taken its toll and that fans are desperate to see young talent be given an opportunity.
The exits of club greats Jimmy Bartel, Steve Johnson, Chapman, among others, also disappointed supporters.
So when it was revealed Scott, entering the final year of his deal, would be recontracted for another two years, there was an obvious outcry among supporters.
It’s why Scott will need another flag in 2022; otherwise it will be another season lost and the discontent among the fans will only grow.
Toby Prime. March, 2022
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