AFL 2021: Geelong Cats coach Chris Scott responds to capitulation against Melbourne Demons

The Geelong Cats missed their chance to claim the AFL minor premiership by coughing up a huge lead against the Melbourne Demons.

The Cats had won six of their last eight against the Demons prior to Saturday night. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Geelong coach Chris Scott was quick to downplay the significance of his side conceding the last eight goals to Melbourne, losing the match at GMHBA Stadium and the minor premiership in the process.

Scott, a past master in sending a positive message to Cats fans and players in a crisis, said the 48-point turnaround and resultant four-point loss to the Demons would have little bearing on his side as it progressed to a sixth straight AFL finals appearance.

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“It’s hard to completely dismiss the fact that we had control of the game and didn’t win in the end,” he said after Demons ruckman Max Gawn sealed his club’s first minor premiership in 57 years with an after-the-siren goal.

Scott coached the Cats to their most recent premiership in 2011. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“But we were always of the mindset that whatever happened tonight, we need to focus on the next game really quickly.

“It was always very likely that if we won, we would play a final in Adelaide, and if we lost we’d play a final in Adelaide.

“The only thing that was really going to change was that we might play an opposition on their home deck (against Port Adelaide next weekend).

“So the reframing of the position is really important because it would be easy to dwell on what happened late in the game – irrespective of how dominant we were early in the game – and it’s not the most important thing for us.

“The most important thing is moving forward and focusing on how we’ll play our best footy next week, which the guys are really steeled and galvanised to do.”

Inexcusable loss. Best player doesn’t touch it in Q4 - poor coaching. Completely unnecessary 50m penalty against. #AFLCatsDees

— Tim Yeatman (@TimYeatman) August 21, 2021

This is officially the most insane day of footy. #AFLCatsDees

— Ayrton Woolley (@AyrtonWoolley) August 21, 2021

The term unbelievable scenes has new meaning after today #AFLCatsDees

— Andrew McCormack (@_AMcCormack7) August 21, 2021

Scott said the form his charges showed to get to their seeming position of power midway through the third term had been impressive.

“For a large part of the game, we showed how well we can play,” he said.

“For the last 30 minutes of the game, we just couldn’t get our hands on the ball and it’s hard to work out why that’s happening.

“One theory is you’re 40-odd points up in the last home-and-away game for the year and you know you’re playing in Adelaide the following week, so it’s very difficult to stay in the moment and not project forward.

“But I’d like to think that when the stakes are higher and we’re in that position, that we would be able to stay in the moment better than we did.

“We certainly made some mistakes and Melbourne played well … (but) that last 30 minutes was unlike us.

“I think the first 4-5 minutes of the final term, we had eight touches to their 40-plus, so if you’re giving up field position from the centre bounce, it can be hard to do the things you need to do when you’ve haven’t got the momentum.

“That was an issue for us, but we need to balance that with what happened earlier in the game and I thought we were very good in that area.”

Gawn shook off his reputation for missing set shots and slotted the matchwinner. (Photo by Michael Klein)

Scott said his team’s 21-point victory against Port Adelaide in Round 13 was something he would draw upon this week.

“We’re really confident we can play well. The last time we played them over there helps a little bit, but more importantly we think our game’s in pretty good shape, notwithstanding the final 40 minutes of this game.”

Originally published as AFL 2021: Geelong Cats coach Chris Scott responds to capitulation against Melbourne Demons