AFL coaching news: Chris Scott to sign an extension with Geelong in the off-season
Geelong has lost a trio of assistant coaches this off-season. Where does that leave Chris Scott and the club’s plans for the future?
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Geelong will march ahead with a summer extension for coach Chris Scott as the Cats search for a new battery of assistant coaches after Matthew Scarlett’s departure.
Scarlett will take at least 12 months out of football after a draining two-year period and follows Matthew Knights (West Coast) and Corey Enright (St Kilda) out of the door at Geelong.
The Cats are aware of the perception of losing a trio of assistant coaches so close together but are adamant all of the departures had unique circumstances.
Scarlett simply wants a year out of football after becoming a Dogs development coach and then rejoining the Cats in 2016 as the backline coach.
Enright retired at the end of 2016 and immediately became a Cats coach, and is keen to explore a different club as he ponders the question of whether he eventually wants to be a senior coach.
Watch Fox Footy’s massive line-up of grand final week coverage on Kayo including live pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage with full analysis from the best team in the business. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >
Knights was able to secure a three-year deal with the Eagles after a decade at Geelong, with the Cats genuinely thrilled he was able to secure a long-term deal at a rival club.
It means there is the chance for new ideas at Geelong under Scott next year, with the club already putting out feelers and some assistants contacting the club.
As the Herald Sun reported in August, the only delay in a contract extension for coach Chris Scott was to allow new chief executive Steve Hocking to start at the club.
Despite speculation about Carlton’s interest in Scott, they have appointed Michael Voss, with Chris Scott dismissive of their interest after the preliminary final loss.
He is expected to sign an extension past 2022 and again front up for a premiership tilt, even if the club ends up playing a slightly younger side.
Scott is seen as intensely loyal and keen to continue his partnership with the club despite the latest missed chance at a second flag.
Nathan Kreuger will join the Pies on a three-year deal and Jordan Clark is expected to ask for a trade to Fremantle.
But the Cats have a trio of early-30s draft picks and will be keen to pump games into Sam De Koning, pick 16 Cooper Stephens and Max Holmes.
The club does not share the sentiment that its list profile means it will fall off a cliff, but there are decisions ahead on players including Lachie Henderson and potentially contracted veterans Luke Dahlhaus and Shaun Higgins.
Scarlett will step away from football altogether for 12 months after a stellar coaching and playing career that includes three premiership, 284 AFL games and Hall of Fame induction.
It has been an incredible journey, much more than I could ever have hoped for when I joined the club,” Scarlett said.
“I have enjoyed coaching, but the time is right to take a break. The relationships I have formed over my time at the club will remain with me forever. I would like to thank the club, the coaches I have worked with and the players for making it such an enjoyable experience. I will really miss the ‘misfits’ – a great group to work with. I wish the club success in the future.”
BLUES MISS OUT ON DREAM COACH SIGNING
Scott Gullan
Geelong assistant coach Matthew Scarlett is stepping away from football.
Scarlett informed the Cats on Thursday that he wouldn’t be returning to Kardinia Park because he needed time away from the game.
Carlton and newly appointed coach Michael Voss were expected to make a play for the Cats legend.
Scarlett has been as assistant coach under Chris Scott since 2016 and was in charge of the team’s defence over the past couple of seasons.
He had previously worked part time at the Western Bulldogs after retiring in 2012.
Geelong has now lost three assistant coaches since their preliminary final loss with Matthew Knights joining West Coast and Corey Enright moving to St Kilda.
Former Brisbane champion Nigel Lappin, ex Magpie Shane O’Bree and Richmond premiership player Shaun Grigg, who is expected to have an elevated role next year, remain on Scott’s staff.
Scarlett formed a uniquely close bond with his defensive players, with the backline group at the Cats coming to be known as ‘The Misfits’.
The Geelong champion said he would cherish the relationships he had built, but admitted the time had come for him to have a break.
“It has been an incredible journey, much more than I could ever have hoped for when I joined the club,” Scarlett said.
“I have enjoyed coaching, but the time is right to take a break. The relationships I have formed over my time at the club will remain with me forever.
“I would like to thank the club, the coaches I have worked with and the players for making it such an enjoyable experience. I will really miss the ‘misfits’ — a great group to work with. I wish the club success in the future.”
The role of filling the support group around Scott for 2022 will now fall to incoming chief executive Steven Hocking and football manager Simon Lloyd.
Lloyd paid tribute to Scarlett’s immense contribution to the Cats over more than two decades.
“Matthew has enjoyed huge success as both a player and as coach at the club, and we wish him and his family well in his future,” Lloyd said.
“Matthew has always sought to make the Geelong Football Club better, both as a player and in his role as a member of the coaching staff. There is no doubt that many players improved greatly under his guidance.”
HARVEY: WHY I JOINED MITCHELL REVOLUTION
When Robert Harvey was in the Collingwood coaching box Tom Mitchell had his way with the Pies more times than he cares to remember.
Now as a new Hawthorn assistant coach he says his challenge along with Mitchell is to drive the Hawks to team success through a deep and diverse midfield.
As revealed by the Herald Sun on Wednesday, Collingwood caretaker coach Harvey has joined the Hawthorn coaching panel after strong interest from multiple clubs.
He will join first-year coach Sam Mitchell, Chris Newman and newly signed assistants David Hale, Adrian Hickmott and development boss Andy Collins.
Harvey says he cannot wait to learn off Mitchell and tap into the Hawks’ culture of success after 10 fulfilling seasons at the Pies.
Dual Brownlow Medallist Harvey has one more of those individual awards than both Sam Mitchell (2012) and midfield star Tom (2018), who also polled 25 votes to finish seventh in this year’s tally.
His four games against Collingwood in Hawthorn colours were 35 possessions and two goals, 54 possessions, 33 touches and 44 possessions and a goal.
Nathan Buckley famously commented that the 54 touches didn’t hurt the Pies too much, but Harvey is a huge fan.
Tom Mitchell has laughed off trade speculation and with few suitors on the market would seem likely to be in Hawks colours next year.
“He has certainly given me some pain over the years when we have played,“ Harvey said.
“I have seen how good he is first-hand. I spoke to him briefly today when I was in (at Hawthorn) and I will get to know him really well but I imagine at his age the one thing he will do is get a really successful group around him. That will drive him to impart what he can and get the best out of himself. It’s a challenge for all of us and he will be front and centre in that challenge.
“For whatever reason he got hold of the Pies. He’s just a good player, plain and simple. He gets it inside and outside and it’s going to be a great thing to coach really good players like him.”
Harvey and Mitchell have been in talks for some weeks along with Hawks football boss Rob McCartney and the move felt right despite them having no previous relationship.
“My dealings with them have been really strong in the last few weeks and it just felt like a good fit for me. I think there is great change there, the list profile is in a really exciting position as well and there is a freshness about Sam starting and the other coaches coming in too. It just appealed to me as a new challenge.”
At only 50 Harvey’s senior coaching aspirations are far from over but he is keen to get his teeth into coaching at a new club after 10 of his 13 seasons as an assistant coach at the Pies.
“It’s only my first impression but Sam is a really great footy individual. He has a passion about what he wants to do, he is clearly driven and he will try everything in his power to get it right.
“He has a clear passion and hunger and desire which has come through and we have had a few chats about footy and he just has a really switched-on footy mind.”
More Coverage
Originally published as AFL coaching news: Chris Scott to sign an extension with Geelong in the off-season
Ablett’s heartbreaking condition reveal
Jordan and Gary Ablett had been reluctant to discuss many details about their little boy’s heartbreaking condition until now.
Waiting game? Dockers continue to keep tabs on Swans superstar
The possibility of Chad Warner asking for a move back to Western Australia continues to make the rounds, but how quickly could it happen? Fremantle have had their say on the matter.