Port Adelaide v Geelong: Chris Scott says coaches must have direct access to the ground after being tripped by a fan

SA Health officials have weighed in on Chris Scott’s brush with a fan at Adelaide Oval and discussed their solution to the issue with the AFL.

SA Health says Geelong coach Chris Scott coming into contact with a fan at Adelaide Oval is not a Covid-19 breach but is concerning from a security perspective.

Scott tripped on a spectator’s leg on Thursday night as he made his way down the stairs from the coaches box to the field at three-quarter time in the Cats’ 21-point win over Port Adelaide.

After seeing vision of a frustrated Scott gesturing to security during the final break, former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said on Fox Footy: “you can’t have coaches walking through the crowd for everyone’s sake”.

Scott, whose side was forced to abide by strict SA Health restrictions before and after the match due to Victoria’s latest outbreak, shared a similar view, saying it was “a little bit silly, especially in the circumstances we’re in at the moment”.

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Chris Scott gestures to a security guard at three-quarter time after being tripped. Picture: Fox Footy

SA’s deputy chief public health officer Dr Emily Kirkpatrick said the incident had been reviewed on CCTV and was not an infection control breach, so the spectator would not be required to quarantine.

“Of course from a security perspective this is concerning … and I understand the AFL are reviewing this,” Kirkpatrick said on Friday.

“This is really a matter for the AFL to further review and address how their staff move around the oval, and what further security provisions can be put in place.”

Kirkpatrick said SA Health had discussed with the AFL whether coaches could spend the game on the ground but were told they needed to be in the box due to “data analytical” reasons.

The AFL did not respond to questions about the incident on Friday.

Adelaide Oval’s security determined no further action was required against the spectator because there was no evidence to suggest Scott was deliberately tripped.

Thursday night’s incident was the third notable interaction between coaches and supporters at Adelaide Oval in the past 10 months.

Richmond mentor Damien Hardwick exchanged words with a fan after the Tigers’ loss to Port Adelaide in April, while departing Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley fist-bumped a supporter in August.

Damien Hardwick was involved in his own incident with a fan at Adelaide Oval this year. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

A Stadium Management Authority spokesman said the ground ran all games in line with operational protocols endorsed by the league.

“These are reviewed in consultation with the AFL following every game and this will now happen as a matter of course,” the spokesman said.

Scott said it was strange club officials still had to walk through the crowd “in that proximity where people are actually brushing past us” to get to the ground given they had to abide by stringent Covid measures.

Earlier, McGuire said that Adelaide Oval, which was redeveloped ahead of the 2014 season, had to fix the issue.

“Get a lift or whatever the case may be, but you cannot have the coach walking through the crowd if you’re the away coach,” McGuire said.

“That is ridiculous in any stadium in the world.

“This is a great stadium, so I’m at pains to say this.”

Chris Scott hugs Joel Selwood post-game. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Although Scott backed McGuire’s stance, he did praise Power fans for their post-match behaviour.

“We were trying not to get too close to the supporters, but I thought the Port Adelaide supporters were very sincere,” he said.

“It was the first time walking off the ground of a game in Adelaide where the supporters have actually been quite complimentary and sportsmanlike in the way they interacted with us.

“I appreciated it.”

Hardwick revealed in his post-match press conference in April that a Power fan offered him a tissue after the Tigers’ defeat.

“I thought ‘gee, that’s a bit harsh, we’ve won three of the last four flags, mate,” Hardwick said.