HIT THEM ON BOARD
Coach lays down law on how to snap Richmond’s winning streak
GEELONG coach Chris Scott says the Cats will look to turn up the scoreboard pressure as they search for an upset win over powerhouse Richmond at the MCG tomorrow night.
Scott has promised his team will “embrace the contest” in front of a big crowd, knowing a win would be a significant boost to their finals ambitions.
The Tigers have won 18 in a row at the MCG — including last year’s Grand Final — but the Cats are confident they can put an end to that winning streak.
“They’re a very, very good team. But when we are playing at our best we are a good team as well,” Scott said.
“As much as anything, we are talking about embracing the contest and the privilege that is playing the best team in the comp with a few games to go in the year at the MCG on a Friday night.
“We are of the view, especially against the best teams, and Richmond are clearly on top of that group, you need to have the capacity to score and put them under pressure.
“If you just try to hang in and protect your back half against them, the weight of numbers can tell in the end.
“We would like to put all teams under pressure, but especially them. We would like them to defend a bit longer than they do in general.”
Scott said the Cats had looked to be more attacking in recent weeks, which had “manifested in us being scored against a little more than we would have liked as well”.
It is something they can illafford against the freewheeling Tigers.
“We are looking for balance,” he said.
The Cats are likely to be forced into at least one change with Tom Stewart injuring his ankle in the win over Brisbane Lions last week.
A number of players including Mark O’Connor, Jamaine Jones, James Parsons, Jordan Murdoch, Zach Guthrie and Ryan Abbott are in line to take his place.
The Tigers humbled the Cats by 18 points when the two sides met in Round 13 but Geelong was in the hunt at threequarter time, trailing by a point.
Scott said there were “so many parts of the game” his team had to get right to secure four points tomorrow night.
“They don’t have too many flaws, which is probably why they don’t shift with their game style too much,” he said.
“(They have) got good continuity with their players, got good players on every line, play a really predictable system, predictable to each other.
“Last time we played them, and it’s one of the rare times where you have actually got some recent form to compare . . . our guys around the ball were actually pretty good, especially around the centre bounces. We’d like to maximise our chances in there.
“That’s easier said than done with (Trent) Cotchin, (Dustin) Martin and (Shane) Edwards and (Kane) Lambert. They’ve got a pretty deep midfield, too.
“I think, especially if it is a bit slippery, the contest around the ball will be pivotal.”