Chris Scott proud of Geelong for winning big after ‘difficult week’

Geelong coach Chris Scott is proud of his side for knuckling down and getting the win over the GWS Giants following a “difficult week”.

The Cats got the win in the nation’s capital. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Chris Scott has credited the entire football department for Geelong’s convincing 53-point victory over the GWS Giants.

“It was a really difficult week for us,” said Scott, who was forced to reshuffle his line-up after several injuries.

“It felt to us that everything that could go wrong was going wrong in the lead up to the game.

“I’m so proud of one our players, but two, the system that our assistant coaches and development coaches and everyone at Geelong has put in place to find a way under trying circumstances.

“It speaks to the system that has been put in place over a long period of time.”

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Scott celebrating victory with Zach Guthrie at full-time. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Scott pulled the playing group together on field after the final siren and he revealed that his message to them was one of confidence.

“The message was when we are really clear on what it is we are trying to do and we go out really committed to executing it, we are a pretty good team,” he said.

Joel Selwood, Shaun Higgins and Max Holmes all played in round seven but injuries forced them out of the line-up to face GWS, while Esava Ratugolea did not return as Scott had hoped.

Geelong was also left with a ruck crisis on the eve of the match after Rhys Stanley was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Utility Mark Blicavs was thrown in the deep end as the number one ruckman and his ability to not only curtail the influence of Giants ruck Braydon Preuss but to hurt GWS going the other way was pleasing for Scott.

Giants coach Leon Cameron conceded that Geelong won the ruck battle.

“I’d like to think (the late change didn’t affect us), but clearly the indicators are that they won that battle,” he said.

“They won it at ground level, and they won it around the ground.”

Blicavs in action against GWS. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

Cameron lamented his side’s “flat” performance after a difficult month.

“We have been on the road for five weeks and Geelong zapped us from the start,” said Cameron.

“We couldn’t get that run and flow we had last week which led to a flat performance.

“You can’t threaten a team like the Cats with 4.12.

“They threw a few curveballs at us that we didn’t handle.”

But he has held firm on his mantra that 2022 is a “marathon”, not a sprint and that the Giants are not going to give in.

“We are not a club that’s going to shy away from hard work,” he said.

“The season is a huge marathon, we see results every week, how did one side beat another?

“We need to stay in this marathon, there will be some challenges along the way.

“We are trying to find our way and we are evolving as a young team, but we took a step back today and are disappointed with our performance.”

The Giants face a crunch clash against the Blues next weekend whilst the Cats take on the Saints at Marvel Stadium.