Geelong Cats coach Chris Scott explains line coaching change, reveals uncertainty over whether he has signed contract

Chris Scott is a big believer in ‘process’ but there’s so little formality in his contract situation he’s not even sure if he’s signed on to a two-year extension — which may be his last at Geelong.

Geelong coach Chris Scott has revealed that easing the scrutiny on line coaches assigned to a certain part of the ground is one of the reasons the Cats have abandoned that method in 2022.

A rusted on part of football for decades, the Cats have broken new ground by ditching titles for its coaching panel, which usually includes assigned defensive, forward-line or midfield coaches.

Assistant coaches Nigel Lappin and Shaun Grigg flank Chris Scott. Picture: Sarah Reed

Instead of players working almost exclusively under a particular coach, they will work with the entire panel under Chris Scott this year.

Scott declined to go into specific detail about the new style but said one example of the change was the way the entire field is expected to play defence made it unnecessary to assign a specific defensive coach.

He also said assistant coaches had come under fire unfairly in the past when their lines had been perceived to have not performed.

The Cats had enjoyed some success with rusted on line coaches, with Matthew Scarlett drawing praise in recent years for his work with the backline before he left the club at the end of last season.

Geelong’s 2020 coaching team, which has by and large moved on. Matthew Scarlett, James Rahilly, Matthew Knights, Nigel Lappin, Corey Enright, Shane O'Bree and Shaun Grigg. Pic: Michael Klein

“We have made a conscious decision to come up with a structure that we think works in the modern game and one of the rationales for that is we think that from the outside, too much pressure is put on certain coaches because of their ascribed position in the structure,” Scott said.

“Our game is very different from say the NFL, where you have a separated offence and defence. Here we are just to interlinked that the assistant coaches shouldn’t bear the scrutiny from things that are outside of their control to a large extent.”

Scott has also revealed he has taken a complete hands-off approach to his new contract, admitting he wasn't even sure if he had signed the two-year deal.

Chris Scott was back in action on the Gold Coast last week. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

The deal will take Scott through 14 seasons in charge at Geelong and while he said it could be his last contract, he had no thoughts of moving on just yet.

“I can’t remember actually signing (the contract) but I don’t even think about it,” he said.

“All you need to know is I am committed to the club and the club is committed to me. For a while now we have moved away from a really formal arrangement.”

Originally published as Geelong Cats coach Chris Scott explains line coaching change, reveals uncertainty over whether he has signed contract