Geelong coach Chris Scott says Cats were fortunate to hold on against Collingwood as more ruck headaches loom

The Cats looked to have a solution to their ruck woes, but now they’ll have to get creative. Geelong coach Chris Scott on how they cover the blow and the thrilling final moments of their win.

Geelong coach Chris Scott concedes his side was “fortunate” to get away with their nailbiting three-point win over Collingwood and said the Cats will need to get creative to cover the loss of veteran Rhys Stanley.

The result was out of Geelong’s hands as durable Magpie Jack Crisp missed a shot after the siren in the game he equalled the VFL/AFL record for most consecutive matches.

Scott believes the Cats’ aggressive intent and ability to defend the corridor helped get the game back on their terms when they trailed by three goals during the third term.

He lauded the Cats’ ability to remain in the contest but said the previous goal scoring opportunity, a mark in the square from Brody Mihocek, was what frustrated him the most about Collingwood’s late fightback.

Brody Mihocek gave the Pies a fighting chance at the death. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“It can’t be repeated what was on my mind (when Jack Crisp was going for goal),” Scott said with a smile. “It was a game where you kind of expected something like that to happen.”

“The holding the ball free kick in the middle added to the theatre of it, and get it forward and have a shot after the siren.

“The one that was more frustrating was the mark in the goalsquare, before that, we were fortunate to get away with the win in the end, the way the last two or three minutes played out.

“Not fortunate before that to get ourselves in that position. After being outplayed for a big part of the middle of the game, the ability to hang in there and to give ourselves a chance, that was admirable.

“It’s not just in this moment, it’s been going on for a while, they (our players) hang in.”

Stanley, 34, was subbed out with a hamstring blow at quarter time and Scott said the severity won’t be known for “at least a week.”

“We can guess and give you a number, and it won’t be right,” Scott said. ”Anyone that tells you what hamstring injuries are in the moment, they’re just lying to you.”

Rhys Stanley was all smiles after the win, but he faces a stint on the sidelines. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Stanley’s setback presents a selection headache for the Cats given Sam De Koning, who started the season as Geelong’s No.1 ruckman, is back to his best as a key defender, averaging 10.5 intercepts and 4.5 intercept marks in his last two games.

De Koning was swung out of the ruck after Stanley returned to the side as a late inclusion in their win over Melbourne and he hasn’t attended a centre bounce since.

Geelong has three other ruckmen on its list, but Toby Conway (back) and Mitch Edwards (management) both have no timeline for their return as the club carefully manages the two promising big men.

Rookie draftee Joe Pike, who turns 20 in May, is in his first AFL season and is still developing in the VFL.

The potential returns of premiership defenders Jack Henry and Jake Kolodjashnij could free up De Koning to support Mark Blicavs, who impressed in the role against Collingwood after Stanley went down.

“(Blicavs) was critical. When we lost Stanley to a hamstring... I won’t lie to you, I thought, ‘Okay, this is going to be a real challenge now’, and we’re going to need some guys to step up and play some big minutes,” Scott said.

NMark Blicavs and Sam De Koning spoil the ball. They could form the basis of the flying Bobby Hill of the Magpies during the 3rd qtr. . Picture: Michael Klein

Henry is a chance to return against GWS next week from his own hamstring injury but did not take part in Geelong’s main training session on Thursday.

Fellow defender Jake Kolodjashnij made his return in the VFL last week but will not get another game under his belt due to the Cats’ VFL bye this weekend.

“I don’t know exactly how we’re going to go, but we feel like we’ve got options there,” Scott said.

“We’ve got two young ruckman on our list that we’re really confident are going to be good players, unfortunately they’re still not available.

“So it means we’ve got to be a bit more creative right at the moment, it’s not ideal.

“Hopefully we get Kolodjashnij and Jack Henry back soon, which gives us a bit more optionality again.”

Originally published as Geelong coach Chris Scott says Cats were fortunate to hold on against Collingwood as more ruck headaches loom