GEELONG coach Chris Scott said it\u2019s incumbent on him to \u201cbe the bigger man\u201d and to \u201cprovide a good example\u201d following his verbal altercation with Brisbane coach Chris Fagan and Lions players during round 2.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you take a step back and you try to look at what we\u2019re trying to do (with) these kinds of issues then it\u2019s incumbent on me to be the bigger man,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe potential for it to flare up was zero from my perspective but again that is not the issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a responsibility and, I want to be at the forefront of that, of providing a good example to the lower levels.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there is any possibility that something might escalate then it is my responsibility to de-escalate that.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe play a highly-charged, emotional game and I think that\u2019s part of the theatre that people love,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it can really quickly degenerate into ugly scenes at the lower levels – where you don\u2019t have the sort of control that we have at the top level.\u201d<\/p>\n
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