Minor premier deserves more says Scott

GEELONG coach Chris Scott believes there is a lack of recognition from the AFL for the team that wins the minor premiership.

The Cats sewed up top spot last weekend to claim their second minor premiership in four seasons.

After achieving the feat, Scott suggested that the league does not afford enough celebration towards the successful side.

“I do have a view and I’ve had it for my whole career in footy, really,” he said on Sportsday.

“It’s that the AFL doesn’t do as good a job as some other competitions in recognising the minor premier.

“That being said, it’s difficult to slow down too much right at the moment because of the excitement that the next six weeks presents.”

Scott’s admission that the focus swiftly shifts to the finals series ties in with his club’s mindset of celebrating the smaller wins along the way.

He said the cut-throat nature of the competition makes it important to acknowledge what could be perceived as less significant milestones throughout the season.

“We are trying to enjoy the small wins along the journey,” he said.

“I think everybody in the AFL world understands that if you don’t enjoy the wins, it’s going to be a pretty tough and relentless time because there are lots of difficulties and anxiety that always presents.

“Especially when you’re a chance. It’s the great irony of the better you do, sometimes the more anxious you get about the future because there’s such an opportunity there for you.”

SEN’s Cam Luke said he’s a “firm believer” that the minor premier should receive a bonus of $1 million given that they are handed little advantage over the team that finishes second.

“I’ve always been a firm believer that the minor premier should get an extra million dollars for finishing on top,” he said on SEN Track. “Prize money is the way to go about it.

“There is no difference between finishing first or second, there is none.

“I think that first and second are identical. The team that’s on top of the ladder after 23 rounds should have a little extra thrown into the kick.

“Just give them a million.”

Hawthorn premiership player Campbell Brown can’t quite see where the money would go, citing what happens financially when a team clinches the premiership.

“You don’t want to give them extra money in the salary cap because they’re already the best side in the comp, so they don’t need it,” he said.

“The winners of the grand final get a pretty healthy bonus that gets spread through the playing group depending on how many games you played.”

– BY ANDREW SLEVISON/ SEN