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Cats unsure of where to go next

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15th July, 2021
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Geelong coach Chris Scott has urged players and their families to roll with the punches as the AFL attempts to navigate its way through the latest COVID-19 crisis.

The Cats moved to top spot on the ladder with Thursday night’s 69-point win over Fremantle in Perth, but they’re unsure where they will be flown to next given the COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne.

Geelong were initially scheduled to fly back to Melbourne after the win over Fremantle.

But with Victoria now in a snap five-day lockdown, that scenario appears unlikely.

Geelong are scheduled to take on Richmond at the MCG on Sunday, July 25, but that game could be moved out of Melbourne.

Players and their families found hub life tough last year, but it’s a scenario that could be revisited if Victoria can’t snuff out the latest COVID-19 outbreak.

Scott said any comments bagging the AFL for the way they’ve tried to navigate through the COVID-19 crisis over the past 18 months have been “unwarranted, misplaced, opportunistic, and cheap”.

He said it was important for players – and their families – to realise that sacrifices will need to be made in order to keep the season going.

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“We feel for the families,” Scott said.

“It’s important for everyone in our football family… to understand that everyone is doing our best.

“We don’t want to be the club getting on the front foot complaining about the situation.

“In terms of what we prefer, we want people to be with their families as much as possible.

“But we also like the families to understand we have been given the privilege to continue doing our job, continue getting paid and doing what we love.

“With that sometimes comes sacrifice. But in the end that sacrifice will bring dividends.”

Scott said the experiences of last year would help his group cope if they have to go through it again.

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“We have evidence to fall back on that we can handle these circumstances,” he said.

“We want them to embrace the possibilities and opportunities that are in front of us.”

Four matches will be played at Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium this round after the AFL was forced to make last-minute fixture changes.

One of those changes was switching the Richmond versus Brisbane clash on Friday night from the MCG to Metricon Stadium.

© AAP

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