WE HAVE THE PLAN
Scott, Selwood back Cats’ system
TO win the premiership this season, Geelong knew it had to go through Richmond and Chris Scott believes his system has what it takes to win it all on Saturday night.
Cats captain Joel Selwood has “been in envy” in recent years watching the Tigers collect premierships in 2017 and ’19, and so Geelong planned its attack with the reigning premiers in mind.
Having eyed Richmond off all year, Scott said his team had the plan in place to get the job done in the grand final.
“In the back of our minds we have known that Richmond is the best team and, to win a premiership, you are more than likely going to have to beat them,” he said.
“Our system was always going to have to stand up against them. We have a degree of confidence that that is the case, but the execution is so much harder than the planning.”
The Geelong coach said there was no mystery to Richmond but actually defeating Damien Hardwick’s side was easier said than done.
“Working out what to do is pretty easy, actually being able to execute it against the best in a pressurised situation is much, much harder,” Scott said.
“They have been the benchmark team, I’m sure they do have real confidence in their system and we are pretty aware of what they do.
“I think the great teams in history have been pretty transparent, it’s easy to see what they do, but it’s pretty hard to stop it.”
On Saturday night, Selwood will captain his side for the 200th time, joining a club made up of five men.
Of those, Stephen Kernahan, Dick Reynolds and Michael Voss led their teams to premiership glory, while Nick Riewoldt and Ted Whitten did not.
Selwood said every year he spent watching others win the flag had made his desire stronger.
“I dream for my team to be up there and get to enjoy the success again,” he said.
“We always follow how it plays out and I have been in envy of what the Tigers have been able to do in recent years, so now it’s up to our guys to take it away.”
To get on that dais and lift the cup, the Cats have to get through the Tigers and their famed system.
And Richmond coach Hardwick said his men were prepared to go the distance.
“I said it many, many moons ago that the side that prepares the best and handles it the best is going to be the side that comes out the other side of it,” he said.