AFL 2024: Geelong coach Chris Scott says Cats will keep open mind for all players

After Geelong footy boss Andrew Mackie didn’t rule out giving Tarryn Thomas a second chance, Cats coach Chris Scott has shared his view.

Tarryn Thomas in action. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

Geelong coach Chris Scott says the club’s open minded recruiting philosophy means they haven’t put a line through sacked former North Melbourne player Tarryn Thomas.

The Roos cut ties with Thomas in February after he was hit with an 18-match suspension by the AFL after being found guilty of multiple acts of misconduct towards a woman.

The ban prohibits the 24-year-old from playing football at any level until late July this year, meaning he could be picked up by a club at the end of the season.

Scott’s comments came after Cats football boss Andrew Mackie was asked about Geelong’s interest in Thomas on SEN, keeping the door open to the possibility.

“The (Tyson) Stengle story is much known. We look at the positives and what their footy skillset can be to us and then we work backwards from there,” Mackie said.
“We do a lot of work on a lot of players, and we look at the positives and what their footy skillset can be to us and then we work backwards from there.”

Tarryn Thomas playing against the Cats in 2019. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Scott made clear that the Cats were a long way from going after Thomas, and said he doesn’t have the full knowledge of the situation to have a strong view.

He said any suggestions that Thomas’ case was similar to Cats forward Tyson Stengle, who Geelong handed a lifeline after he was dumped from Adelaide, were off the mark.

“I didn’t hear (Mackie’s comments), but I would imagine that he’s talking about a player in a way that all of us who are spokespeople for the club would talk about any other player,” Scott said.

“We are open minded at the Cats but in that specific instance, it’s a bit like the other issue with Alastair Clarkson and Jeremy Finlayson, I’m not across some those issues well enough to give a strong opinion, privately, much less publicly, but I think it is good policy to be open minded.

“We believe in second chances – that doesn’t mean that you can just roll in and do whatever you want. But I think, in principle, the idea of not getting to know too quickly is a good one.

“But I think the most important thing is that yeah, we are open minded — now that’s a long, long way from yes, but it’s a start.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong coach Chris Scott says Cats will keep open mind for all players