Chris Scott’s plea to AFL after latest Geelong Cats win

Chris Scott had a message for the AFL after Geelong’s comfortable win over Carlton at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

The Cats could finish the round in equal second place on the AFL ladder. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Geelong coach Chris Scott has advocated for shorter games, with management of players set to be a continuing trend for the Cats through a busy schedule on the road to the finals.

Geelong will head to Perth for a clash with Fremantle on Thursday night, giving the club a five-day break after its win over Carlton on Saturday evening at the MCG.

“Two years ago, it would’ve been the main story, five-day break and getting on a plane to Perth. What we’ve been through the last 18 months, it’s play on,” Scott said.

Scott flagged the return of Joel Selwood for the game, with the skipper managed on Saturday along with pressure forward Luke Dahlhaus.

“The plan is for them to come back in but as always we’ve got a lot we want to play and only 22 spots, so we need to work through that a little bit. Joel’s not perfect, but we thought the most honest description for him this week was to say he was managed rather than be specific about a few little issues that might keep him out of a game later in the year, we’d prefer to be a bit more proactive,” he said.

Scott praised the AFL for the decision to shorten game times in a compressed 2020, before admitting the management of players will continue as the league tinkers with Thursday and Monday night football.

“As a spectator when I watch footy on Thursday, Friday night, the game’s way too long,” he said.

“I don’t really get a say in that, but the shorter games do allow you to play on shorter breaks. Five-day breaks, with the game time and longer season, at least for us it would be unsustainable to play the same 22 every week.

“If that’s what we have to do then so be it, but I don’t think it’s best for the game. I think you want the best players out there as much as possible. I certainly like it when there is heat on the game rather than being drawn out. There’s nothing the rule makers can do to stop the coaches controlling the tempo of the game, we’ll win that one every time.

“I love watching footy on a Thursday night. I’m going to enjoy watching it on a Monday as well. I think the options really open up with shorter game time and they drastically reduce with the game time we are enduring at the moment.”

The win over Carlton placed Geelong a game clear of Port Adelaide in the top four with a 12-4 record.

Scott coached Geelong to the 2011 Premiership. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Kicking gives Teague the blues

Carlton coach David Teague felt early misses in front of goal set the precedent for his side, with the Blues kicking a woeful 5.14 in Saturday evening’s loss to Geelong.

“Some of them were shot quality, some it’s just making the most of your opportunities,” Teague lamented.

“I think last week at one stage we were 10.3 so we can do it, but we didn’t today. There seems to be a bit of a trend for us that if we start missing early, whether the next guy feels the weight or the pressure of it. We’ve got to get better; you don’t win games kicking like that.”

At one stage during the third quarter, the Blues had slumped to 1.12, with Teague adamant his players will continue to work on their craft on the training track.

“The key to good goalkicking is just staying in the moment and sticking to your routine,” he said.

“I know the guys will train it, it’s definitely something from an individual point of view maybe they need to address but it’s hard to replicate that at training.”

In addition to poor goalkicking, Carlton lost the territory battle, with Geelong dominating the inside fifty count 56-38.

Geelong coach Chris Scott was pleased with the functionality of a forward line missing star Jeremey Cameron despite kicking just ten goals on the night.

“It was probably going to be a low scoring game as it went on as it got a little more slippery, it was probably harder than it looked,” said Scott.

“I thought (Esava) Ratugolea was pretty good, I thought he looked dangerous right from the start. We didn’t think it was a problem, the functioning of the forward line. It’s a different structure to what we’ve played for most of the year, and we thought there was some encouraging signs.”

Both teams have reported to escape the game without major injuries, with Teague hopeful key forward Charlie Curnow will make a return through the VFL next weekend.

A potential late season senior return would be the unlucky Curnow’s first AFL appearance since June 2019.

“He got through training on Thursday which was his last really big session,” Teague said.

“As long as he pulls up well and gets through the next week, he’s a chance to play. If not this week, the following week.”

The Cats were able to capitalise on forward 50 entries more effectively than their opponents. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Geelong has solidified its spot in the top four, grinding out a 26-point win over a disappointing Carlton at the MCG.

Horrific ball use haunted the Blues throughout the night, finishing with a paltry five goals from nineteen scoring shots which would have looked worse if it wasn’t for a pair of late majors.

The wasteful Carlton outfit failed to capitalise on a strong start to the game, with dominance around the stoppages curtailed by 54 per cent efficiency by foot – including 13 clanger kicks – compared to the Cats’ 71 per cent.

With the trend continuing, repeat inside fifties eventually wore down an undersized Carlton backline missing key tall Liam Jones. While Tom Hawkins was held goalless on the day by an impressive Jacob Weitering, three consecutive goals to Geelong in the third opened up an 18-point margin with a quarter to play.

Back-to-back goals to Zach Tuohy to start the fourth quarter opened up the margin to 30 points, with the second coming on an awful turnover from Liam Stocker kicking in from full back.

On a day where the Blues had only themselves to blame, it felt fitting that a skill error provided the final nail in the coffin as the Cats cruised to the final siren.

The conservative Cats dominated the territory game to lead the inside fifty count 56-38 behind the latest dominant performance from Tom Stewart, who finished with 25 disposals and 10 intercepts from half back in a best on ground performance.

Rising superstar Sam Walsh was once again a shining light for Carlton, finishing with 35 disposals and two goals, but it wasn’t enough, as the Cats’ ability to take care of the footy ultimately proved too much to overcome.

The Blues were made to pay for their inaccuracy in front of goal. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Tough love for old friends

Geelong pair Lachie Henderson and Zach Tuohy hardly felt the love from their old club’s fans, with each hearing loud boos on every touch of the football. Henderson (102 games) and Tuohy (120) spent a number of years at Carlton before heading to Geelong in separate trades. Henderson was playing game 200 on the night, making the reaction all the more humorous.

Rohan takes a screamer

In a game desperate for some highlights, Gary Rohan took a classic screamer down the city end of the MCG during the second quarter. Planting his knee on the shoulder of Blues big man Tom De Koning, Rohan hauled in a beauty.

Holmes redeems himself

Young Geelong utility Max Holmes blew a golden opportunity to kick his first goal in AFL football, dribbling one right from the top of the goal square in the third quarter. Making matters worse, Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins was waiting for a handball just to his left. Redeeming himself in the dying minutes, Holmes busted clear from a pack to snap one home to the delight of his teammates.

BLUES 1.5 1.9 2.13 5.14 (44)

CATS 2.1 3.4 6.7 10.10 (70)

PITMAN’S BEST

Blues: Walsh, Weitering, Newnes, Williams

Cats: Stewart, Tuohy, Guthrie, Menegola, Henry, Henderson

GOALS

Blues: Walsh 2, McKay 2, Petrevski-Seton

Cats: Tuohy 2, Bews, Higgins, Parfitt, Ratugolea, Rohan, Smith, Stanley, Holmes

INJURIES

UMPIRES Donlon, Findlay, Broadbent

VENUE MCG

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

PITMAN’S VOTES

3 Tom Stewart (GEEL)

2 Sam Walsh (CAR)

1 Zach Tuohy (GEEL)