Chris Scott: ‘What ifs’ over veterans Tom Hawkins, Zach Tuohy to haunt Cats

Chris Scott has rued basic errors which cost the Cats a chance to fly for a second flag in three years, and also revealed the difficult conversations with veterans who missed the prelim loss.

Geelong coach Chris Scott was left rueing “basic errors” which cost the Cats a grand final berth as he revealed the lingering doubt behind his decision to leave out Tom Hawkins.

Scott said he had found it tough to explain his selection calls to Hawkins and Zach Tuohy as he was left dealing with the ramifications of the pair’s playing careers coming to an end with the 10-point preliminary final loss to Brisbane.

“I really don’t like this part of the game. I’ve found this week really hard, dealing with those guys,” Scott said after the defeat.

“One of the hard parts is you come away from it, and you still don’t know whether it was the right decision or not.

“When it doesn’t work out, you tend to think that maybe it wasn’t (the right decision), but I wasn’t going to sleep for a couple of nights anyway.”

Scott said Geelong had dominated the game for “large periods” and was frustrated they had failed to take advantage when in control, particularly in the first 10 minutes when they could only muster four behinds before Lions star Charlie Cameron snapped the first goal against the run of play.

Chris Scott after the game on the MCG. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“I suspect we’ll look back and think, ‘gee, some of the basic things we’re pretty good at, cost us a big lead’,” he said.

“The obvious is the disappointment, and managing that. I did say to the players and the broader footy department, one of the things that I’ve been proud about being a part of this footy club is even through disappointment, I can’t remember a lack of unity or the disappointment getting the better of people.

“If I focus on ourselves for a second, I suspect even though it doesn’t feel like it at the moment, we’ll be more proud in a couple of weeks than we are right now.

“You’ve got to risk this feeling to take the chance to do something great – we just didn’t quite get it done tonight.”

Scott said he could not go into detail on how assistant coach Steven King’s collapse at training on Friday had affected the players’ performance without it sounding like “making an excuse”.

He said it was “difficult to explain” Max Holmes’ hamstring issue which had forced him off the ground for most of the third term before he was subbed out in the final quarter.

The Geelong speedster had been the dominant player on the ground before his injury and led the Cats for metres gained (606m) despite only playing little over 50 per cent game time.

“I don’t think it’s serious necessarily, but there was enough uncertainty there for him to be off the ground for a long period of time,” Scott said.

“It was a frustrating period there for everyone, but in terms of a full and complete explanation, I can’t really give you one at the moment.”

Veteran Mark Blicavs revealed skipper Patrick Dangerfield urged teammates to stay the course in an on-field address after Saturday’s final siren.

Dangerfield dragged the team together in a huddle in the centre square before leaving the MCG, kicking off a club-wide effort to hold firm before the off-season drags players apart.

“Pat’s good as with that,” Blicavs said.

A dejected Max Holmes leaves the MCG on Saturday. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

“Similar to Scotty’s messaging (he said to) stay positive and stick together. It is a tough time but we are in a privileged position to put ourselves in this spot to have a crack at making the grand final.”

Asked if the Lions loss hurt more than other preliminary final defeats – Blicavs also played in 2013 and 2019 when the Cats were similarly overrun – the utility said the stages of grief all feel different each time.

He also said that time is the best way to move through a tough end to the year.

“This is my eighth prelim now and I have only made two grannies. They all hurt differently,” he said.

“Being with your teammates and coaches, you get to chat through a few what-ifs and things we felt out there and over the next week or two it will be constantly debriefing.

“And time (helps) as well I suppose. It sucks, but time (helps).”

Blicavs said seeing Max Holmes suffer another hamstring injury was a hard sight.

“I think he is OK. It is tough but again he has had an amazing season and keeps putting himself in that spot to win games for us,” Blicavs said.

“He has taken the next step and if he keeps improving he is going to be a superstar. It is not just him, it is everyone, we just look after each other and stay positive.”

Blicavs denied the shock hospitalization of midfield coach Steven King on Friday affected preparation, with King not joining the Cats at the MCG for the Lions match.

“We love Kingy. All the staff got to him and looked after him,” Blicavs said of King, who collapsed during training.

“Again we love being involved in this club. We stuck together and support each other through different avenues. It is what it is.”