Scotts’ great divide
Wife and daughter to cheer Cats’ coach from afar
CATS coach Chris Scott’s wife Sarah and seven-year-old daughter Leila will be two of the thousands of Cats fans cheering from home during Saturday night’s AFL Grand Final.
Today marks the club’s 110th day on the road, and apart from a twoweek reunion in the Queensland hub last month, the family of three has spent the season apart.
As has happened for so many loved ones separated by the coronavirus pandemic, FaceTime has been a saviour.
Mrs Scott said when she finally spoke with her husband after last week’s preliminary final win, the “relief” on his face was obvious. “It has sort of been like an episode of Survivor this year about who would hold on the longest,” she told this week’s edition of gt magazine.
“I am so thrilled for them. With everything that they have been through this year, and being away from home for so long, this has made everything worthwhile.”
A co-owner of eco-friendly retail destination Natural Supply Co, Mrs Scott said the time apart hadn’t been without its challenges.
“For me personally, everything changed when Leila went to remote learning,” she said.
“That’s when it became really difficult because we had just opened the shop and you’re having to juggle work and home school and solo parenting.”
Asked what she made of the memes circulating about her husband’s particularly healthy, tanned appearance of late, Mrs Scott laughed.
“A few people have said to me, ‘Is it kind of awkward people are talking about what your husband looks like?’ and I said, ‘I am not really used to it but I can only agree. I think he looks great’,” she said.
After wishing her dad luck in the morning, Leila and her mum plan to watch the match with another football family that recently returned from the hub.
“I feel like I need some support around to watch it, I don’t think I could watch it by myself,” Mrs Scott said.
“I do get nervous because I know how much it means to Chris and for the whole club.
“We will leave it up to the footy gods to decide whoever has the luck and the skill with them on the day.”