Chris Scott says he never entertained not signing a contract extension with Geelong despite feverish speculation over his future over the last 12 months.
Scott is set to sign a three-year extension which will see him remain at the club through the 2025 season. He is on track to surpass Reg Hickey as Geelong’s longest-serving coach in terms of games coached.
The 45-year-old revealed he’d held discussions with new Cats CEO Steve Hocking, as well as his predecessor, Brian Cook, the club’s GM, Simon Lloyd, and up to half a dozen players on whether he should stay on as Geelong’s senior coach.
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“I didn’t (think about not signing); it was more about trying to work through a little bit of a process,” Scott told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“In terms of the process I went through, and I’ve been through it a number of times in my decade or so at the Cats, it was a process of talking to the key people.
“It was like, ‘Is this still working for us? Do you think that I’m still the right person?’. I was overwhelmed by the support of those people. The support that I get at the Cats and have gotten over a decade is amazing to me. I love the place.
“I can’t really see myself coaching for the rest of my life, I never said I would be a career coach, but right at the moment if it continues like this I’m up and about.”
Scott touched on his relationship with Hocking, admitting that the pair had held a “robust” discussion upon his arrival at the club late last year to take over from Cook.
“I’ve got great respect for him,” he said.
“I appreciated the fact that he effectively said to me, ‘This is my vision for where I think the club wants to go, I need to know that you’re committed to it’. Once I assured him of that, it was a robust 30 seconds or so, but we’ve worked really closely since then.
“In my mind, (the contract) has been agreed to for a long time. Even before Steve Hocking came in as CEO, Brian Cook and the board were working on it, but I felt it was prudent to wait until Steve was in the chair to make sure that we were aligned.
“We have a great relationship, but I don’t think anyone is under any illusions that Steve will do things his way.
“The last four or five months have been rejuvenating for me in a way. I’ve really enjoyed what he’s brought to our footy club. There is a real air of optimism around the place and I’m feeling that, too.”