Matthew Lloyd has urged Geelong to consider whether Chris Scott is the right man to regenerate its side, saying the current crop of stars have “missed their time” to win.
Despite another off-season of topping up its list with ageing veterans, Geelong fell well short of its goal of winning a premiership after being humiliated by Melbourne in the preliminary final.
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The loss has left the Cats heading into what looks to be transitional off-season, with incoming CEO Steve Hocking having already “ruffled some feathers”, according to The Age’s AFL reporter, Caroline Wilson.
Wilson stated that the club had been faced with a “crossroads situation” on what to do with Scott’s future, with the 45-year-old heading into the final year of his deal in 2022.
According to Wilson, there was “dissention” between Scott and his assistants as the 2011 premiership-winning coach clashed with two players-turned-coaches, Matthew Scarlett and Corey Enright.
Enright has already left the club along with fellow assistant Matthew Knights, and there are growing doubts surrounding Scarlett’s future at the club.
With so many of Geelong’s mainstays moving on, Lloyd said the club needed to face the harsh truth that it may have to part ways with Scott himself.
“I just wonder whether a change for Chris and a change for Geelong could be a good thing in 12 months’ time,” he told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“He has to start all over again … with regenerating kids. This is a four or five-year process for me for the next coach at Geelong, whether it’s Chris or somebody else.
“They’ve missed their time, so that’s where it’s a huge decision.”
Scott has also been linked with the Carlton coaching job, particularly after the club unveiled former Geelong CEO Brian Cook as its new CEO, replacing Cain Liddle.
Despite the club’s well-documented desire to land a seasoned coach, it has so far struck out on its two leading candidates: Alastair Clarkson and Ross Lyon, leaving Scott as the next potential big-name target.