Chris Scott sees no reason a daily AFL dose, or at least an abridged version of it, shouldn’t continue next season as his Geelong side eye ladder-leading Port Adelaide on just three days of rest.
The Cats made light work of St Kilda at the Gabba on Monday, kicking the last nine goals to win by 59 points and jump ahead of the Saints into the top four.
Their Gold Coast meeting with the Power will be Geelong’s fourth game since August 1 and the Cats coach can find merit in AFL’s stacked schedule.
“There’s nothing that I’m seeing that says this sort of model is impossible into the future,” he said.
“Famous last words now, we could get a horrible result (on Friday), but (starting fresh) with 18 teams there’s no way you’d run a 22-round competition.
“And from a spectacle perspective, most people I know that follow footy are loving that it’s on every night.
“You could you do it – our players will probably curse me for saying it’s possible – you couldn’t do it every week, but some version of it is possible.”
Scott said the Power deserved their No.1 billing.
“We can’t sit back and spend too much time on tonight but I don’t think it’ll be a challenge to get ourselves up for it, because the opposition is so good, the danger is so clear,” he said.
“I smile, because I feel fine but we’ve planned it … the club’s done a good job with the macro and the micro (managing ongoing injuries) is always going to be flexible.”
He said Esava Ratugolea was likely to return against Port after being rotated out of Monday’s team, while Nakia Cockatoo was one of “eight to 10” pressing for his first game since early in the 2018 season.
Tom Hawkins kicked five goals in the win, while the returning Gary Rohan booted four and Sam Menegola coupled 26 touches with two majors.
It was a lesson for the up-and-coming St Kilda but Scott didn’t think it was a simple case of older heads prevailing.
“I’m not sure how much we should dwell on what Geelong’s been,” he said.
“We have some players who’ve been there and done that but the majority aren’t resting on their laurels.
“There are new faces and they’re certainly not living on the coat tails … they’re trying to make their own way. “
GGG
Roar Rookie
I wonder what planning the afl have undertaken for next year, as I feel that covid is far from over and there's a high likelihood it will impact on next season like it has in 2020. McGowan has even said it could be mid 2021 before WA opens its borders to the rest of their country, and who knows how things will be in Victoria? We may be in for another season of hub life :thumbdown:
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
We can only pray someone does.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
It works for BBL because thats on during school holidays. Not sure about AFL. Though I did like watching the Freo Hawthorn game yesterday.
Nico
Roar Rookie
The AFL sending WA teams to a 2nd QLD hub rather than have teams fly to Perth and actually have bigger crowds says it all.
ScottyJ
Roar Rookie
Is that 17 games 1 year away next year home v each team? I like the Friday double header but dont think it works for crowds etc in a normal year.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Pies have rested Moore and missing Elliott, Pendlebury, De Goey, Howe, Hoskin-Elliott, Quaynor, Treloar, Greenwood and Langdon through injury. Out of our best starting 22 I’d say only Greenwood would be possibly out so that’s 9 of our best 22 missing. It may well be the Crows first win tonight.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Here's a Kick for you Popy. The Most Sacred Church of the Golden Goal is always open for business. May you kick a ton my son.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I love my footy too Brendon but we never have a fair fixture do we really? 34 games anyone?
AD
Guest
I wish we could play ourselves, only way the Crows might get a win this year. Even then, it would probably end up in a nil-all draw.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Always look on the bright side of a pandemic when you are top 4.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
There are less goals with shorter games, Goalsonly.
2dogs
Roar Rookie
Blues won’t be playing finals. Don’t watch after the final h&a game :happy:
Macca
Roar Rookie
I don't want 5 weeks less football.
Shauno
Guest
All the clubs outside of Victoria have to travel 10 times a year normally. Whilst some Victorian clubs are lucky enough to only do 2-3 times a year but that’s a fair comp. if anything at least the other state clubs have been afforded the opportunities only handed out to Victorian teams.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Ha ha, yeah maybe, but it's not like I'm super familiar with that feeling.
SimplySimon
Guest
At last, someone who really see's this season for what it is. For me, the whole competition should be scrapped. Let the lads play friendlies if they want as many people still get pleasure out of that but please, lets stop the pretense that this is a real season where there is real competition and one in which a winner deserves to be awarded the flag.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
No more compromised than Richmond playing their last 7 matches on the 'G, or playing the GF, once again, on their home deck. Personally, I was hoping for one of the Melbourne clubs to finish top this year, only to be pumped in the GF at Optus by the Eagles, Cats, Port or Brisbane. It's a shame this isn't likely to happen. I don't think it's a coincidence that all the top clubs this year are non-Victorian.
Simply Simon
Guest
Might be OK at the moment with much of the AFL world in lockdown but when work ramps up again next year, fans will find it harder to catch games. Needs thinking through properly.
2dogs
Roar Rookie
Easy to say when you’re on top of the ladder :laughing:
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I'm not a fan, as much as I like it being fair, I want a longer season, not a shorter one, I need my footy :happy: