Following Geelong’s disappointing finals exit against Sydney, and a trade period that netted Zach Touhy and Aaron Black while losing a host of assets (the biggest two being Josh Caddy and a 2017 first round draft pick) coach Chris Scott has come under fire from Cats supporters.
These fans are angry that their clubs couldn’t go from outside the eight in 2015 to winning the flag in 2016. They are angry that their club couldn’t follow up an off-season in 2015 which saw them gain the best player in the game with more high profile recruits in 2016.
Scott, as coach, has been the obvious target for these frustrations. Largely this goes with the territory for a senior coach in the AFL. They are scapegoats for when their team is not performing well enough, and the reality is that 17 of 18 AFL coaches this year have failed in achieving the only thing that truly will satisfy the fans.
However, what Scott has endured seems to be above and beyond.
Cats fans are conditioned to success and as such have a touch of the “born to rule” mentality that Hawthorn supporters carry so well. It is a condition that is innate in every Cats fan, myself included, and manifests in a belief that if we were given control, we would do things differently.
These irrational thoughts are fine, but they are just that, irrational. And the vitriol directed at Scott is just that too.
The facts are these Scott won a flag in his first season at the Cats. He has missed the top eight once in five years, and missed the top four only twice.
He has signed the best player in the league. He has transitioned the retirements of all-time greats of the club. He lost the previous best player in the AFL (G. Ablett) the season before he started at the Cats. He has kept the club at the very top, and refused to hide behind a five-year rebuild like so many others have done.
Now what the irrational Cats supporter in me says is: “oh but all these things just fell into his lap, anyone could have done it. He inherited a Rolls Royce and just put it into gear. He didn’t sign the games best player, Moggs Creek did. The retirements have been horrible, none of the players wanted to go and he forced them out.”
The bottom line from supporters is this: “I could have done a better job.”
Yet the fact is that Scott has comfortably (by around 3%) the best win-loss percentage of any coach to have been in charge for 100 games or more.
He has won a premiership for the club, something that happened just twice in the past 46 years.
By that measure, he is going 400 per cent better than the previous Geelong coaches, better than even Bomber Thompson.
So lay off Chris Scott. Just because you are dissatisfied doesn’t mean that you would do a better job. There can only be one winner after all.
The Finger
Guest
I'm not a Cats fan and have some respect for Scott. However, when you look at 2016 performances from Steve Johnson at GWS and James Kelly at Essendon, I think that Scott has retired players prematurely. Also, I reckon Enright would have more to give in 2017 if he had the chance. Paul Chapman also gave a lot in 2 seasons at Essendon after being delisted. You need to look beyond just on field performances as well. Look at the intellectual capital that Johnson and Kelly shared with youngsters at their respective clubs - it's gold - and both those players will be huge contributors to their new clubs (and adoring fans) in 2017. At Arden St, Chris' twin, Brad seems to have the same affliction. Better to wind back some experienced players and use them as mentors for the bright eyed kids coming through, rather than give away absolute stars to competitors and share their massive skills and experiences with kids on opposing teams. Oh, don't forget the huge impact that Matt Stokes had on Zach Merrett, Essendon's best and fairest for 2016. He'll be a star for years to come.
Wayne
Guest
Longmire - the grand final chump - really?
Bobby
Guest
Can I just say Cat I think you are always overly negative and look for what is wrong first, before looking at what is right. Try and see the light before the dark next year, and you might have a much more enjoyable season
Pete
Guest
Hardwick was appointed at the end of 2009 and first full year coaching was 2010. I've counted using my fingers and get 7 full seasons as coach. He has never coached one finals win. He lost 3 elimination finals in a row. The writing should have been on the wall for him after that but instead Richmond extended his contract. Following an awful 2016 club performance he is right now clearly by far the worst coach in the competition.
DH
Guest
Departing assistant coaches is standard for Premiership teams. Before Hawthorn, it was Geelong losing Hinkley, McCartney, Sanderson plus guys who left for assistant positions. Geelong also lost Ablett and players like Matty Egan (AA CHB) to career-ending injuries. Every club faces similar dilemmas and when you're the premier they're somewhat exacerbated.
DH
Guest
Down to 6 this year, isn't it? Cats get stiffed by the AFL more than anybody to keep the AFL's crowd numbers up at the expense of the Cats' finances.
Cat
Roar Guru
DC - if a team hasn't 'gelled' after 23 rounds and a final ... it never will. Cats lost because they were poorly prepared with a poor coaching plan. No excuses needed.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I should have just put him at the bottom without highlighting it - I agree it was a bit harsh in that respect. I have seen so much of him getting outcoached over the years, he seems willing enough but doesn't seem up to speed with the competition. Not saying I would do a better job but if you're on that sort of coin and in that role you need to be the very best, and I don't see that in him. The way Richmond play, the players he picks, the favourites he has (and doesn't have), the attitude Richmond still have after 6 years of him being there, that GWS game late in the season where they didn't give a rats is a prime example...anyways, I don't think he's terrible, he's just not as good as the other 17.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Yeah I think the Hawkins weight loss experiment is a failure. Even stripped down he doesn't have the pace to outrun defenders and find space reliably, and without the extra muscle mass he struggles to win the contests. If he's going to play as a statue he might as well be a really heavy one.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Motlop in 2017 will be an interesting barometer of the Cats culture. If it's still as good as it was in the past he will show marked improvement. I agree too, Motlop should play almost as a freelance attacker, with a licence to roam around in and outside 50, get himself into good attacking positions from clearances. Eddie Betts does it to great effect at Adelaide.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
The recruitment drive they've been on would've actually significantly contributed to their performance in the PF I reckon. The flux and big name recruiting likely reduces the team gel factor, which becomes all the more important in the heightened pressure of finals. Another flux amplifier they faced was the compounded bye situation in the finals this year. Bad year to win a QF.
Cat
Roar Guru
2nd is just the 1st loser.
Cat
Roar Guru
The half-hearted efforts. The disinterested body language. The lack of desire to make himself a better footballer. He undoubtedly has the talent, if only he had the commitment. I think Chris Scott also misuses him. He should be spending the entire game as a small forward and not the majority of the time as a midfielder who doesn't defend. I am personally glad he didn't get traded, I just hope maybe this trade period will have woken him up to himself.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
I said he hasn't encountered the same hurdles. But I take your point to a degree Birdman. In terms of absence of key players (through injury / illness and suspension [Crameri]), I think Bevo contended with far more absences than Clarko ever has. I think the reigning AA Captain counts as a pretty key player. Murphy, Johannisson, Libber, Macrae, Dahlhaus, Wallis, Adams, Tom Boyd, Suckling, Redpath, Campbell and Crameri all missed large chunks of the season and some of these from the GF too. Only Gold Coast has suffered a worse or similar spate of injuries. Departing Assistant Coaches and IP is something Bevo hasn't experience yet. Death of an Assistant's son is unique.
Lachie
Roar Rookie
Strewth, you'd think geelong had finished last given some of the comments here! Thanks for reading and the discussion
Birdman
Guest
Hmmm....so Bevo's done it tougher? Cancer affecting your most valuable player, losing a once in a generation player to a rival, multiple injuries to key players, death of assist coach's son, losing multiple assistants to other clubs taking IP, fixtures from hell. Can't say I agree with your proposition PD.
Slane
Guest
Taking into consideration just how bad Richmond were when he took over, those numbers aren't bad. How do the Scott brothers compare to Hardwick?
Slane
Guest
He inherited 'the worst list since Fitzroy' in 2010 didn't he? That's 6 seasons and no finals wins. Buckley inherited a premiership winning list iin 2012 and hasn't even made the finals since.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
vs Beveridge 0W - 2L
Cat
Roar Guru
vs. Ross Lyon: 3W - 1D - 7L vs. Clarkson: 3W - 5L vs. Longmire 5W - 4L Overall: 11W - 1D - 18L