Craig Hutchison says this week’s semi-final against the GWS Giants has massive implications for Geelong, with a loss having the potential to draw coach Chris Scott‘s tenure at the club to an end.
After the exit of Alastair Clarkson from Hawthorn, Scott is now the equal longest-tenured coach in the AFL along with Sydney’s John Longmire, after his debut season with the Cats yielded a flag in 2011.
Geelong has constantly topped up its list with veteran recruits in search of another premiership in recent years, with Jeremy Cameron, Isaac Smith and Shaun Higgins joining the fold this season.
Ten of the 22 selected players in Scott’s side to face Port Adelaide in last Friday’s qualifying final were aged over 30, but the experience did little as the Cats were humbled by the Power, leading to questions over the team’s future.
While Hutchison believes Scott’s men will overcome the Giants this weekend, he says a second consecutive loss could cause rival clubs to pitch Scott on a potential move.
“If they were to lose this week, it does bring into question whether other clubs will come and try and pry him clear of the Cattery,” he told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“I can’t imagine that he stays and rebuilds this team. They have squeezed the life out of the older end of the list and the rebuild, when it does come, is going to be a significant job and probably for someone with fresh energy.
“It does open the door, if they were to lose this weekend, for clubs to go and ask the question. I can’t imagine that he wants to be there for the next 10 years and rebuild the team.
“The prospect of a straight-sets loss will encourage other clubs. He’s told us repeatedly that he doesn’t see himself as a long-term coach, and I think that’s enough of an invitation for the vacant jobs, Carlton in particular and potentially the Gold Coast Suns, to ask the question post this finals series.”
Scott’s record in the finals has constantly been raised over the last decade, with his side particularly unsuccessful in qualifying finals.
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd raised whether the game style could be a problem, a point that was echoed by The Age columnist Caroline Wilson.
“Nothing but a premiership after last year and finishing so well this year will be good enough for Geelong and Chris Scott,” he told Footy Classified. “They’re all in, they’ve recruited that way.”
“I know we talk about it every year with Geelong, but 72 per cent win-loss, the best of all current coaches [in the home and away season], but when it comes to finals he drops to 39 per cent, so the questions will be asked.
“Is it a game style that can get you through home and away games, but when it comes to finals the fast ball movement gets you through.”
“I think that’s a question Geelong are asking themselves internally,” Wilson added.
“They asked it last year and I reckon they’re asking it again at the moment.”
“The interesting thing is if they don’t get to the grand final this year, what happens to Chris Scott and what happens to that Geelong list?”