Kingsley sees connection problem
The Suns reportedly have interest erest in Duncan, who is in career-best form, likely to poll well in the club’s best-andfairest and has at least five good od years left. Doubt the Cats will budge here. In the words of Darryl Kerrigan ... A former first-round draft pickk who has been starved of opportunities at Geelong but managed to play in the Cats’ last two finals. He’s out of contract tract and plenty of clubs are interested in his services. A fresh esh start could appeal. Hasn’t set the world on fire at the Cats. The Suns have a plethora of talented big men, but most are at the start of their AFL journey. urney. Gold Coast may see the versatile Stanleyanley as a mature body who can help out. ut. A left field one. The lure of a return eturn to South Australia makes a trade to the Gold Coast unlikely. But the Suns should hould have the money to satisfy Menzel financially. ncially. Another Cat who is out of contract. ntract. Motlop was shopped around last tradee period but couldn’t find a home. His form m through finals means it is likely a club would be interested in his services. The obvious choice, given the Cats would love ove to offload his salary, reportedly about $550,000. 550,000. Gold Coast would be a fresh start foror the hot and cold midfielder. But whether coach Chris Scott sanctions a deal remains s to be seen. “I sincerely hope he’s a Geelong g player next year . . . I’m not sure how much ch more emphatic I can be than that,” Scott said. Hard-running, smooth-moving g defender who has struggled to o establish himself this season on his return from a serious knee injury. ury. The 23-year-old has the class to be an AFL footballer and the opportunity to get a good run of games could appeal. One of the more unlikely options, especially since his brother is now at the club. But t the Suns might campaign to try to lure the classy midfielder. Expect Geelong to block any advances for the 25- year-old. He is the type of player the Suns would want. Signed a contract extension recently, but we all know that doesn’t mean much in footy these hese days. Brother Kade is at the Suns and nd the chance to link up with him might appeal. Suns were said to be sniffing around him this year. Established defender er who can play tall or small. Geelong’s first pick in the 2017 7 draft, which came to the club in the trade for Zach Tuohy. Thehe Cats are unlikely to want to part with this for Ablett, especially cially if they are in the market for Stewart Crameri and Jake Stringer. The Suns are likely to favour a player over a pick. So o this one looms as an outsider.
FORMER Geelong forward Kent Kingsley believes a “big disconnect” between Geelong players and coach Chris Scott is behind the club’s inability to perform well in finals.
“There’s a big disconnect between the coach and lots of players and I think you can draw a line and connect that to how the side has performed when the stakes are highest,” Kingsley said in an SEN report yesterday.
Geelong has won only three of 11 finals since taking out the 2011 premiership, including back-to-back preliminary finals losses.
“It has to be looked at holistically and if you do that you’ll see a pattern, and that is the Cats cannot translate home-and-away form into finals form,” he said.
“There are a number of home-and-away games that can be won purely on talent, but elevating that talent, particularly the bottom 12 of the 22 that competes, is where good coaches separate them- selves. A massive part of that is open and ongoing communication with players and from what I’ve heard, that just doesn’t happen at Geelong with the players who need that.”
In the lead-up to the finals, Geelong chief executive Brian Cook defended Scott, saying the coach had done “an exceptionally good job”.
“He’s worked hard on developing more meaningful relationships at all levels,” Cook said.