Coaching masterstroke by Chris Scott revives Geelong’s flag hopes, writes Mark Robinson

THIS was Chris Scott’s greatest coaching triumph outside of the 2011 premiership as he engineered a memorable win against Sydney with a tactical masterstroke, writes MARK ROBINSON.

Steven Motlop was switched on against the Swans. Picture: Michael Klein

THIS was Chris Scott’s greatest coaching triumph outside of the 2011 premiership victory.

His players dismissed as incapable, lacking talent, ticker and composure in the September heat, Scott galvanised the group by day and orchestrated an upset by night, one of the most stunning in recent AFL ­history — a 59-point win against Sydney.

If Scott was going nuts in the coaching box on Friday night, as he does, then he deserved to be doing so.

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This was colossal, a tactical masterpiece and a lesson in how to take hold of the mindset of the defeated and, in a week’s time, reset it to confront the toughest, most honest team in the competition and basically humiliate them.

A coach has his helpers, but a coach more than anything needs to lead, needs to believe and have the players believe in him.

To that end, Scott was ­simply magnificent.

Geelong coach Chris Scott addresses his team. Picture: AFL Media

There was the game plan and there was the players who adopted the game plan.

Scott had to be bold and brave. He had to trick up his own team and the opposition. Patrick Dangerfield to full-forward was the signature move.

One wonders when he thought of that strategy. Driving back to Geelong after last week’s loss to Richmond? In bed at 3am on Sunday night searching for a response? Whatever and whenever, it worked.

Starting on Dane Rampe, Sydney’s best defender, Dangerfield kicked Geelong’s first two goals and kicked another two goals in the second quarter.

He had 4.3 at halftime and a new opponent and added to the Dangerfield legend.

Is there nothing he can’t do, save for the occasional night where he butchers the ball and wants to do everything, which was his lot against the Tigers.

Scott took him out of the midfield — when he is the team’s best midfielder — and plonked him at full-forward.

It was crazy, bold coaching, but it worked.

Dangerfield kicked the goals, his teammates up the field won the ball and dictated the game.

That’s where Scott excelled.

He devised a strategy to avert another rotten night of ball use. They were jumpy against the Swans in last year’s preliminary final and jumpy against the Tigers last week.

The Cats were calm, patient and methodical with the ball.

Starting Patrick Dangerfield in attack proved to be a stroke of genius. Picture: Alex Coppel

No blazing away long, no adrenaline-charged attempts at the remarkable and the impossible. The Cats controlled the tempo and the Swans could do very little to disrupt it.

At halftime, the Cats led 9.4 to 3.4. They had 21 long kicks and 54 short kicks. The Cats even exposed the Swans on contested ball. At the half, it led 86-66.

The shellacking continued in the third quarter and at the final break the margin was 49 points.

After that, it was contempt footy, in that the Swans had surrendered and Cats were avoiding injury.

Geelong had many terrific competitors.

Scott sent Mark Blicavs to Mr September (Josh Kennedy) — big body v big body — and the Cats won that duel.

Kennedy finished with 20 disposals and three clearances and Blicavs 19 touches and 14 tackles. Can’t wait to see the coaches votes on Monday because Blicavs should finish prominently, if not top of the pops.

Harry Taylor was sent to Lance Franklin after Tom Lonergan withdrew from the team because of food poisoning and rendered Franklin virtually useless.

Lance Franklin was well beaten by Harry Taylor. Picture: AAP

Was Buddy still sore form last week’s corkie, or was he simply beaten?

Steve Motlop was outstanding. The roar of the crowd when he kicked his goal in the last quarter was not as loud as when he applied a tackle in the third quarter — the Cats fans know how he plays.

Motlop was everything and everywhere, spirited and creative, which is when Motlop is at his best. When he tackles, he’s absolutely switched on.

Motlop was Exhibit A of Scott working the mental side. He was able to pick up Motlop from last week’s effort and turn him into a game-breaker. That’s coaching.

There was a bundle of them. Tom Stewart had a stinker last week and was superb last night before he hurt his hamstring.

So was Sam Menegola. His numbers were outstanding as a forward-mid: 26 disposals, eight tackles, eight score involvements.

The Swans’ season was mighty, coming from 0-6 to the semi-final weekend, but it doesn’t mean a lot right now.

Once again Luke Parker was well below standard in an MCG game, Gary Rohan was worse than Franklin and Reid was a non-factor.

In fact, the 39 points was the lowest score the Swans had kicked in 20 years.

They were beaten by a team which outsmarted them, out-toughed them and, more to the point, out-coached them.