AFL preliminary final in Geelong? Why not, says Cats coach Chris Scott
Should Geelong play preliminary finals in Geelong?
“It’s a complicated question and an even more complicated answer,” Cats coach Chris Scott says.
The Geelong mastermind has booked a remarkable ninth preliminary final in his 14-year tenure.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.All of those prelims when played in Victoria have been at the MCG under a contract agreement with the AFL.
Scott oversaw an 84-point massacre of Port Adelaide in a qualifying final on Thursday night at Adelaide Oval.
And he was pragmatic post-match when asked if his club’s preliminary finals should be played in Geelong, before finally settling on: “Why not?”
“I have always been consistent on this, I might have slipped up every now and again,” Scott said.
“But I think my position has been you should play your home games wherever you want and the AFL run the final series.
“They (the AFL) have got to work out whether that’s the right thing or not and they’re balancing a whole lot of things that I don’t think about that much.
“They’ve got the good of the game front of mind and what’s best for a whole range of stakeholders.
“And all I care about is the Cats so it’s logical that we would disagree when we have those different perspectives.
“But a prelim final (in Geelong)? Oh yeah, why not. It’s a pretty good stadium.”
Scott has won three and lost five of his preliminary finals as Geelong coach.
And he said it was a matter of time before more non-Victorian venues hosted more prelims.
“What I will say is prelim finals will be played, at some point, at the Gold Coast or at (the) Giants’ stadium or Hobart,” Scott said.
“When I was younger, I answered these questions poorly.
“Now I’m a bit more experienced, I’ll let you sort of make your analysis and put your opinion forward without giving you too much of what’s in my head - although I’ve already done it, haven’t I.”
CHRIS SCOTT’S PRELIMINARY FINAL RECORD
2011, MCG, won by 48 points against West Coast
2013, MCG: lost by five points to Hawthorn
2016: MCG, lost by 37 points to Sydney
2017: Adelaide Oval, lost by 61 points to Adelaide
2019: MCG, lost by 19 points to Richmond
2020: The Gabba, won by 40 points against Brisbane
2021: Perth stadium, lost by 83 points to Melbourne
2022: MCG, won by 71 points against Brisbane
