An article a few days ago in the Geelong Advertiser stated that the Cats had begun negotiations to sign up head coach Chris Scott to a new contract ‘sooner rather than later’.
CEO Brian Cook went on to say he struggled to understand doubters of Chris Scott with plans to try and keep Scott as coach until the end of 2019.
This news sent Cats fans into a bit of a frenzy with most supporters being on the fence on whether they’d like to keep him as head coach or move him on.
Should Geelong keep Chris Scott for another contract?
What is the pass mark of Geelong this year? Obviously, they will say along with every single club the cliché answer of a premiership or nothing. For Chris Scott however, if the Cats don’t win the premiership this season, has he really done enough to stick around and earn another contract?
On bare numbers alone, it seems ludicrous to even have this discussion. Since being appointed in 2011, Scott has won 102 games as head coach, giving him a winning percentage of just under 72 per cent. He’s finished in the top eight for five of his six seasons with an average of 16 wins a season.
It’s the record in those finals games where it starts to get interesting. In the five years he’s coached Geelong in the finals, he has a record of 5-6. In 2011, he led a remarkable team to the flag in his first year as coach.
Since then, it’s been 2-6 in finals. Those losses include a a straight-sets exit in 2014, an elimination final defeat to Fremantle at Simmonds Stadium in 2013 and last year’s embarrassing preliminary performance against Sydney where it was over at quarter time.
In 2016, the games they did lose were unlikely results as well. They failed in back to back games against Carlton and Collingwood, had to pull a miraculous 35-point comeback at three quarter time against Richmond and couldn’t get over the line against St Kilda. It’s the small game mentality that has hurt Geelong for a few years now and one Scott can’t seem to get rid of.
You aren’t going to win every game you play but when you beat the Dogs, the eventual premiers twice in one season convincingly but lose to Carlton, it raises some alarm bells. You can find some similar performances in every year after they won the flag.
Over the course of his tenure, Geelong have undergone a major list overhaul. They’ve said goodbye to a dozen All Australian players, including losing a prime Gary Ablett to the Suns.
Famous names like Ling, Chapman, Milburn, Scarlett, Kelly and Stevie J have all left or retired. Add that on to the fact that Scott’s ability to rejuvenate the list has been hampered with so few top draft picks coming into Geelong and you’d say he’s done well to keep them relevant. Recruits like Patrick Dangerfield and Lachie Henderson do help however.
With so many questions on Geelong’s depth going into this season, it’s crucial Scott gets it tactically right this year. They were clearly too reliant on Dangerfield and Joel Selwood in 2016 but with the loss of Corey Enright, Jimmy Bartel and Josh Caddy with the only replacement coming in being Zach Touhy, they are now putting a lot of faith in some players that haven’t shown game winning ability.
Names like Darcy Lang, Nakia Cockatoo, Cam Guthrie and even Steven Motlop to an extent are all under pressure to perform. If they don’t, Scott will be in the firing line.
Chris Scott’s job is to make sure Geelong are playing their best football and since 2012, they’ve underachieved. His last five years of finals coaching performances have been poor and with the arguably the two best midfielders in the competition playing for him, this season is do or die for Scott.
If they get to a grand final and win it or fall short, I’d give him another year. If they don’t make the grand final without any major injuries, I’d be moving him on.
Bobby
Guest
You're a harsh man Denis. It wasn't him that lay down against Sydney, it was the players
Bobby
Guest
Winning a premiership probably counts as "one thing he's done well"
Denis Fraser
Guest
I agree no GF no extension, no excuses, he is not up to it!
Dylan Piscioneri
Roar Rookie
You might be right. Again, it really depends on what is a pass mark for Geelong this season. With their best 22, hard to imagine anything than a grand final would be a success.
Don Freo
Guest
The Cats are constantly in contention (maybe not this year) and are always in the minds of predictors. Hard to see what people see that have them question Scott. Seems an outstanding coaching career to me.
William Cornwill
Roar Guru
I don't think he deserves a contract extension currently, But I believe he shouldn't be under as much pressure as some other coaches. He has done well dealing with the departures of experienced players but I don't know whether he has been supported, with the recruiters record over the last few years being average at best ( first round selections of Lang and Cockatoo do little to contribute to the team). So overall I think the development of young players will determine his fate, but he doesn't deserve an extension at the moment.
Justin Ahrns
Roar Guru
He had a terrific first season, winning the premiership. But since then I feel he has always under performed, and was out coached in their loss to Sydney in the prelim last year. Not saying he's a bad coach (he might be) but that I wouldn't be rushing to extend his contract if I were Geelong.
Bored
Guest
Not until the season is looking like a success should Scott be offered another deal. There are no other suitors for his signature so what is the rush? He won that flag inheriting a side from the infamous controversial previous coach. He has brought in older players who are a mixed bag to be completely frank. They were brought in to win a flag and their old greats brigade are fast running out of time. The humiliation they copped at the hand of the Swans in the prelim last September really drove home that this is a coach with limited strategic ability. The Bloods got the jump on Geelong and won the match in the first twenty minutes. Scott made no moves, he kept the same limp forwards including playing Henderson(who was clearly lame) out of position. 2017 is exam time for Scott, a flag or its a bust. No more excuses. As old Yabby Jeans said, "DON'T THINK..... DO!"
Brian
Guest
His list management, man management and media skills are pretty good. The big question mark is tactics. He is often out-manouvered. The 2 finals wins he has managed since 2011 were Port & Hawthorn and both games were in the balance with 2 minutes to go. I don't think you can fix tactical responses easily so as a Hawks fan I hope the resign him for as long as possible.
DH
Guest
I think he deserves another chance somewhere else, but for the life of me, I can't think of one thing that he's done well at Geelong. Since his first season, the team has become worse in important matches and even some unimportant ones. The loss against Fremantle exposed a deep problem in his game plan and ability to get the players to perform in big matches which hasn't been improved. Last year he relied on Dangerfield and Selwood to dig the team out of trouble, it had nothing to do with game plan or coaching ability. Geelong need fresh ideas, Chris Scott isn't the man to provide them.
SonOfLordy
Guest
I think he's done well to manage the departure of his senior, core players over the years. The team is virtually unrecognisable with the one from 2011. He still had to win a premiership with that team in 2011. I think top 4 was par in 2011, but for a first year coach to convincingly win the premiership was a great achievement. 2016 was a golden opportunity with Dangerfield falling into his lap, but his team blew many "easy" games last year and failed miserably in the prelim. The pressure is on. Pressure is on both Scott brothers to perform this year. Would be a shame for the AFL to lose the Scott brothers since they bring so much to the game in terms of their positive attitudes toward the game, graciousness in defeat, respect for umpires, emotional control, masculine stoicism in the coaches box, general classiness, etc.