Geelong veteran Shelley Scott opens up on road to 75 games as Cats to blood local debutant

As one veteran celebrates her 75-game milestone, the career of a young Geelong product will begin this weekend.

Shelley Scott plays game 75 this weekend. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Shelley Scott would’ve been happy with a five year career.

On Sunday the 36-year-old will play her 75th AFLW game, something she didn’t think was possible.

“I actually started when I was 28 and I would never have thought that 75 games, I’d still be here,” Scott said.

And as she marks her milestone, another career will begin.

Geelong Falcons and St Joseph’s product Chantal Mason will make her debut on Sunday game after continually pushing for selection most weeks this season.

The key forward was taken with pick 18 in last year’s AFLW Draft after leading the Coates Talent League goalkicking with 31 majors.

Scott, meanwhile, spent most of her career at Melbourne, where she co-captained the club in 2019 and played five seasons.

Geelong AFLW draftee Chantal Mason. Picture: Brad McGee/ Geelong Cats

And she went to great lengths on and off the field, commuting long distances as a dairy farmer from Gerangamete - more than two and a half hours away from the Demons’ base at Casey Fields.

Fortunately Geelong came knocking in 2022 ahead of season seven, eager to add her leadership, competitiveness and tough edge. She arrived along with key forward Jackie Parry from the Demons.

The veteran forward credits the move for extending her career, cutting down her driving time and helping fix her injury issues.

“It was getting quite exhausting there toward the end with Melbourne, two hours especially a lot more time over at Casey,” Scott said.

“I came here with a few injuries and the physios and S&C managed me quite well. And to be honest the body has never felt better, so that side of things has allowed me to get the first few years.

“I wasn’t really interested in going anywhere else. Obviously the shorter drive time is the biggest key factor there, but also a few of my old teammates from Melbourne had played here before and said a lot of really positive things about the club.”

Could she get to game 100?

Shelley Scott spots up a target. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“The 75 games to 100 - that’s a good conversation to have, we’ll talk about it after this (press conference,” Cats AFLW coach Dan Lowther joked.

“Just having Shelley be able to play for us and not have to go to Melbourne all the time, all those kind of things support her performance as well.

“She’s been exceptional in big games for us, she’s a really strong driver upfront and she’s been a great mentor to our Irish players who are learning the game as well. So (she’s a) potential coach, on field coach for us has been great too so a really asset big asset for us.”

She might have reached 100 games had the AFLW started earlier. Instead, she played netball – winning a Geelong league best and fairest with Colac – and a bit of soccer.

Playing on next year may be a more realistic goal for Scott, but that remains up in there.

Shelley Scott has a shot on goal for the Dees back in 2018. Picture: AAP Image/ Tracey Nearmy

“I guess at this age you sort of don’t think too far ahead, you just look at each year as it comes and go from there,” Scott said.

Geelong regains Scott for their must-win clash with Brisbane at GMHBA Stadium after she missed last week with illness, while Mason also comes into the side.

They replace Darcy Moloney (ankle) and Rachel Kearns (concussion), with gun midfielder Amy McDonald to miss at another week with injury despite training fully.

A loss on Sunday means Geelong’s slim finals hopes are over, and Lowther conceded their near misses in several games this season – including this seven point defeat last weekend to Richmond – have been frustrating.

“We’ve done OK throughout different parts of games and we just haven’t put it together for four quarters or there have been moments in games when I think we’ve kind of dropped the ball a bit with our decision making which has cost us in the end,” Lowther said.

Originally published as Geelong veteran Shelley Scott opens up on road to 75 games as Cats to blood local debutant