Geelong coach Chris Scott has been lauded for a series of astute positional switches that have rejuvenated the Cats. However, Scott has diverted the praise to his players, emphasizing their commitment and belief in the changes.Geelong coach Chris Scott has been lauded for a series of astute positional switches that have rejuvenated the Cats. However, Scott has diverted the praise to his players, emphasizing their commitment and belief in the changes. Scott clarified that he strives to avoid imposing authoritarian decisions, opting instead for collaboration with his players. He cited the successful switch of Tom Stewart from defense to midfield as an example, highlighting Stewart’s central role in the planning and execution of the move. The Cats have embraced transparency regarding player development, openly discussing the potential of players like Sam De Koning in various roles. Scott has fostered an open-minded approach to player utilization, allowing for the integration of new recruits like Shaun Mannagh and Lawson Humphries. Despite the coaching staff’s planning, Scott emphasized that the ultimate success of any positional change rests on the players themselves. He believes in empowering players to embrace changes and acknowledges that their input is crucial for overcoming challenges on the field. Scott’s approach focuses on building cohesion while remaining receptive to the unique contributions of individual players. This collaborative mindset has contributed to Geelong’s recent resurgence, demonstrating the importance of player ownership and buy-in in the implementation of strategic changes.
Geelong coach Chris Scott has been praised for a series of positional moves that have returned the Cats to form. But the astute mentor has taken the praise in a different direction.
The Premier League team’s manager has been praised for a series of positional changes in recent weeks, including Stewart’s midfielder switch and Sam De Koning’s new ruck role, while others such as Jeremy Cameron and Mitch Duncan have played in slightly altered positions.
The changes have ended a 1-6 slump, with the Cats seemingly back on track with wins over Essendon and Hawthorn in the past fortnight, although Collingwood play a major part in a blockbuster Friday night at the MCG.
Speaking of the positional changes, Scott felt that both the development and execution of those plans had more to do with the belief and commitment of his players than any authoritarian oversight on his part.
“I hope I never become the type of coach who sits there by himself and thinks, ‘This is what we’re going to do, no matter what,’” Scott said.
“Negotiation is not the right word, it is a collaboration and the most important person in that collaboration is the player himself.
“We made that change with Tom Stewart, for example, and I have no interest in forcing a round peg into a square hole.
“Tom had to be convinced of the idea and especially of the execution and planning of it. He was the central figure and I was the supporting act.”
Geelong’s Tom Stewart has moved from defence to midfield in recent weeks. Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
While the Cats have been secretive about several short- and long-term decisions in the past, they have been more open about players like De Koning and his development, as well as the injured Toby Conway. Last week, Scott indicated that if they see De Koning in a forward role in the future, they could prioritize that as well.
It is this kind of open-mindedness that Scott has supported within their four walls, with the coach pointing to the recent additions of Shaun Mannagh and Lawson Humphries as such examples.
“We’ve never been the type of team that thinks, ‘Let’s get our best 22 and leave it at that,’” he said.
“We believe in cohesion, but you can’t be so narrow-minded and committed to cohesion that you don’t look at someone who is a little bit different, like Lawson in our back half and Shaun in our forward line, who could make a difference for us,” he said.
But ultimately, all the moves Scott and co. make always come back to the players themselves.
“Sometimes I think the coaching group, and this probably happens at other clubs, comes up with a great plan and if the players object to it, then you have a conundrum and some coaches will say, ‘I’m a coach and this is what we’re going to do, so get on with the programme’,” Scott said.
“We’re a bit more of a brain, we’d rather go with a slightly less good plan that the players want because they’re the ones who have to do it and the ones who have to think about it when things go a bit wrong, which they always do – it’s AFL football.”
