Top Cat praises his staff

CHRIS Scott has credited the entire football department for Geelong’s convincing 53-point victory over the GWS Giants.

“It was a really difficult week for us,” said Scott, who was forced to reshuffle his lineup after several injuries.

“It felt to us that everything that could go wrong was going wrong in the lead-up to the game. I’m so proud of one, our players, but two, the system that our assistant coaches and development coaches and everyone at Geelong has put in place to find a way under trying circumstances.

“It speaks to the system that has been put in place over a long period of time.”

Scott pulled the playing group together on field after the final siren and he revealed that his message to them was one of confidence.

“The message was when we are really clear on what it is we are trying to do and we go out really committed to executing it, we are a pretty good team,” he said.

Joel Selwood, Shaun Higgins and Max Holmes all played in round 7 but injuries forced them out of the line-up to face GWS, while Esava Ratugolea did not return as Scott had hoped.

Geelong was also left with a ruck crisis on the eve of the match after Rhys Stanley was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Utility Mark Blicavs was thrown in the deep end as the No.1 ruckman and his ability to not only curtail the influence of Giants ruck Braydon Preuss but to hurt GWS was pleasing for Scott.

Giants coach Leon Cameron conceded that Geelong won the ruck battle.

“I’d like to think (the late change didn’t affect us), but clearly the indicators are that they won that battle,” he said.

“They won it at ground level, and they won it around the ground.”

Cameron lamented his side’s “flat” performance after a difficult month.

“We have been on the road for five weeks and Geelong zapped us from the start,” he said. “You can’t threaten a team like the Cats with 4.12.”