Scott seeking to do better

GEELONG coach Chris Scott said it’s incumbent on him to “be the bigger man” and to “provide a good example” following his verbal altercation with Brisbane coach Chris Fagan and Lions players during round 2.

Scott exchanged words with Lions players at quarter time of their clash after Lachie Neale was struck by Geelong forward Gary Rohan off the ball.

Vision later emerged of the Geelong coach and Chris Fagan voicing their displeasures with each other as both men left the field at the beginning of the second term.

Scott was handed a $10,000 suspended fine by the AFL for his role in the incident on Thursday and he spoke to media a day later having accepted the league’s decision.

“If you take a step back and you try to look at what we’re trying to do (with) these kinds of issues then it’s incumbent on me to be the bigger man,” Scott said.

“The potential for it to flare up was zero from my perspective but again that is not the issue.

“What I am really clear about and what I acknowledge and actually embrace is my responsibility to the game. That is much, much bigger than the specific issues of the weekend.

“We have a responsibility and, I want to be at the forefront of that, of providing a good example to the lower levels.

“If there is any possibility that something might escalate then it is my responsibility to de-escalate that.

“It’s clear (the Lions) have some good players but they also have some quick-witted players as well and that helped to de-escalate it as well.”

While some described the altercation as a show of passion and liked seeing Scott stand up for his side, the Cats coach understands that a similar situation may play out with dire consequences at the local level.

“We play a highly-charged, emotional game and I think that’s part of the theatre that people love,” he said.

“But it can really quickly degenerate into ugly scenes at the lower levels – where you don’t have the sort of control that we have at the top level.”

 

– BY SEN