GEELONG, WE HAVE A PROBLEM
Scott gives team a rocket after Cats float around in space for three quarters
A FUMING Chris Scott has declared Geelong has a problem after calling his players into a rare post-match meeting to address its recurring issues.
The Cats turned in a Saturday night shocker against Carlton, completely outpointed by the hardworking Blues at GMHBA Stadium.
Only a spirited late comeback made the game close, as the Cats stormed back from seven goals down to lose by two points in a rare home defeat.
Scott was so angry at the 11.11 (77) to 12.7 (79) loss he summoned his players to the longest post-game address in his 10 seasons in charge.
The soul-searching session, complete with player feedback, provided “no clear answers” except an acknowledgment the Cats have issues.
Geelong kicked five of its 11 goals in the last quarter, but left its run too late and lost only its fifth game from the past 40 starts at Kardinia Park.
“We won’t sit back and say, ‘Hopefully that was an aberration’. We’ve got to be a little bit harder on ourselves than that,” Scott said.
“I don’t often talk to the players post-game, but I did, and there were a lot of people talking in the room. There are no clear answers, I don’t think, except that we do have a problem. That is clear and it has been clear for a long time.”
Poor starts have cost Geelong in recent finals series, while the Cats have so often relied on one quarter of excellence to pull them back into matches.
The worry also was Carlton had telegraphed its intent all week to start well, having produced two terrible opening quarters this season.
Former St Kilda star Jack Steven made his club debut for Geelong after being brought into the team for fellow midfielder Brandan Parfitt.
Steven had a quiet night and picked up six possessions coming off a seriously complex lead-in.
The four-time Saints bestand-fairest winner was stabbed in the chest and went to hospital on May 17, but was cleared of any wrongdoing by the AFL.
“He’s (Steven) just endured the longest coach-player meeting, at least in my time at the club, so that’s a bit of a downer,” Scott said.
“But it’s still a good story. He’s a competitor and it was conservative not playing him Round 2, so it made sense to bring him in. He’ll get better.”