STAR Geelong forward Tyson Stengle is out of tomorrow’s (Saturday, July 5) AFL game against Richmond for family reasons, with George Stevens to make his senior debut.<\/p>\n
The twilight GMHBA Stadium match will also be a milestone for two-time Cats premiership coach Chris Scott, who reaches 350 games in charge.<\/p>\n
Scott filled out his own press conference bingo card earlier today (Friday, July 4) – the late team change, Bailey Smith not training, a lack of sentiment about his milestone, a veiled barb at head office, and a contrarian point of view about the crackdown on umpire contact.<\/p>\n
Geelong usually leave team changes until game day, but Scott revealed after today’s training that Stengle is interstate because of personal issues and Stevens will take his place.<\/p>\n
The 20-year-old inside midfielder from South Warrnambool was drafted two years ago, and Scott said there was added “spice” in his debut because he had to wait for it.<\/p>\n
He added Stevens had shown “ultra-consistent” form and has an “elite” kick.<\/p>\n
Smith missing a Geelong session is a regular occurrence and Scott said “as far as I know” he will play against Richmond.<\/p>\n
Asked to reflect on reaching 350 games as coach, the reply was also classic Chris Scott.<\/p>\n
“I try not to … if I look a day back, I end up regretting it,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The acknowledgement is nice, but that’s the extent of it. The time to reflect (is) when you’re done … let’s move on.”<\/p>\n
Asked how long he will keep coaching, Scott said it would be somewhere between the last eight games of this home-and-away season “and infinity”.<\/p>\n
Then he was asked about the AFL’s crackdown on players making contact with umpires.<\/p>\n
“I don’t agree with fines, full stop, for anything. I just don’t believe in the punitive approach to justice, full stop,” Scott said.<\/p>\n
He gave the AFL some credit for the crackdown, but there was a sting in the tail.<\/p>\n
“I do appreciate the AFL’s forthrightness in actually seeing something they thought needed to be addressed, and addressing it,” Scott said.<\/p>\n
“Now whether players should be subject to further sanctions based on rules that didn’t exist, that’s a conversation that could be had.”<\/p>\n
Likewise, Scott said there was a simple solution to reduce the amount of umpire contact.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think you should be able to run behind the umpire at centre bounces. Full stop. Fixed – but no-one asked us,” he said.<\/p>\n