Geelong Cats coach Chris Scott says players made clear they wanted Willie Rioli comments, on-field incident kept private
Geelong coach Chris Scott is confident the Cats haven’t let the Willie Rioli saga disrupt preparations ahead of Sunday’s GWS Giants clash. Plus, Scott doubles down on thoughts around player fines.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Geelong coach Chris Scott believes his players hadn’t let this week’s Willie Rioli saga distract them from Sunday’s clash against GWS Giants.
The Cats were caught up in the media storm when it emerged the Port Adelaide forward, who had issued an off-field threat towards Western Bulldogs’ Bailey Dale after their round 8 match-up, had levelled on-field threats towards Geelong’s Brad Close, as well as Essendon’s Archie Roberts, within the last two seasons.
“I don’t think they did get distracted at all, and even if it did, I don’t micromanage our players,” Scott said.
“They’re professionals and we’re there to help them if they need it but these things can kind of become a bit self-fulfilling if you let them.”
With the AFL initially not sanctioning Rioli for his social media threat towards Dale, the league later issued a one-match ban after the previous incidents surfaced.
The 29-year-old Rioli would be available for selection for the Power’s round 10 clash against the Cats at Adelaide Oval.
Scott said the Cats’ approach had been to respect their players’ wishes – which was to not take the on-field incident between Rioli and Close last year any further at the time.
“Any of our players involved in this were pretty clear from the start, they wanted what they considered to be a private situation kept private,” the coach said.
“The fact it hasn’t been this week, I’m assuming it’s mildly annoying to them, but that’s kind of the extent of it.”
Scott said he didn’t know what was said between the two players, but added that was a deliberate distinction of his relationship as coach with his players.
“It’s not as if they run to me and tell me every word, and I don’t go asking for it – we’re there to help them if they need it,” he said.
The AFL has been blasted this week for perceived double standards when it comes to issuing punishments, with many asking why Rioli was not initially sanctioned for the Dale threat when other players, such as Cats sensation Bailey Smith, had been fined for actions such as flipping the bird at fans.
Scott reiterated his opinion that the type of infractions in Smith’s case, didn’t warrant a fine.
“I’m not standing here saying I’m right and they’re wrong, but if it was up to me … we don’t fine players,” he said.
“I get you need to have some penalties at a societal level, you can’t just never fine people for going two kms over the speed limit, it’s difficult when you’re trying to manage 25 million people, but when we’re managing 50. The AFL has a few more, so it’s a bit harder for them but this punitive approach to justice doesn't make that much sense to me.”
Cats make three changes for Giants
Scott said he would be surprised if vice-captain Tom Stewart wasn’t available for their round 10 interstate fixture against Port Adelaide.
Scott said Stewart’s initial PCL concern against St Kilda in March wasn’t the current issue holding him back from a return, the 32-year-old missing three of the last six games since then.
Completing running during the Cats’ Tuesday training session, Stewart will miss a fourth game against the Giants as the Cats take a cautious approach with his return.
“Our impression was Tom wouldn’t miss at all post the Carlton game, and now he’s going to miss two which seems a bit different to the expectation,” he said.
Instead, premiership defender Jed Bews makes his first appearance for the Cats this season, in one of three changes.
Bews comes in alongside forward Gryan Miers and midfielder Ted Clohesy, with Lawson Humphries (concussion) and Rhys Stanley (hamstring) out with injury and two-gamer Oli Wiltshire omitted in favour of the returning Miers.
Scott said Bews’ finger injury had made his return to football quicker considering if he could keep up his conditioning.
“He could run very quickly, a matter of days, post-surgery, so he’s in really good shape, we feel like we’re bringing in a fresh player who is ready to play well as opposed to one who has missed quite a bit of footy even though that is the reality,” he said.
Meanwhile, fellow defender Jake Kolodjashnij has been ruled out of the Cats’ VFL curtain-raiser on Sunday with injury.
Scott revealed Kolodjashnij’s issues were more to do with his back than his previous groin issue.
“He’s just been managing it on an ongoing basis,” he said.
“He’s just pulled up a little bit sore here and there … he was going really well, looking like he was going to have a really good session, woke up with a back spasm.
“Sort of unrelated (to the groin), but if you’ve ever had pelvis, lower back issues, nothing is unrelated down there.”
Originally published as Geelong Cats coach Chris Scott says players made clear they wanted Willie Rioli comments, on-field incident kept private
Accused arsonist was angry at father ‘lagging’ on him before fire
An accused arsonist who lit his father’s bedroom on fire has been granted bail, after his mother-in-law told a court she just wants to see him get the help and support he needs.
Ex-AFL talent turns it on in big Giants win, as young gun dominates
Ex-AFL defender Heath Shaw gave a young Geelong West side a boost in a resounding round 4 win for the GFNL club, but it was a young forward who opened - and finished - the game with a bang.