Geelong coach Chris Scott has once again voiced his displeasure over the requirement for AFL coaches to navigate through the Adelaide Oval crowd, following a fresh altercation with what he termed 'nuffies' in the stands.
Scott took exception to remarks directed at him as he made his way to the three-quarter time huddle during the Cats' narrow 11.9 (75) to 10.14 (74) loss to Adelaide on Thursday night.
'This is one of the best stadiums in the world,' Scott said after the match. 'I love it, but no, it’s an oversight that coaches should have to walk through the crowd. I don’t want to do it at any ground.'
Clearly upset by the comments, Scott glared in a specific direction as he returned through the crowd to reach the coaches' box for the final quarter.
'I didn’t have any words with any fans. I spoke to security,' Scott explained. 'Of course they do (have words with me). They’re nuffies, but that’s OK.'
This is not the first time Scott has expressed frustration with Adelaide Oval or fan interactions at the venue. In 2021, he was tripped and described the situation as 'ridiculous' that coaches had to walk through the crowd to reach the field.
The latest incident occurred as Geelong lamented missed opportunities in a tight defeat. A second consecutive loss leaves the Cats at 8-5 ahead of a crucial match against Gold Coast, with their top-four position under threat.
Geelong dominated the Crows at centre clearances, controlled territory early, and won the contested possession battle but were inefficient in front of goal.
'We feel like the game was there for us to win and we didn’t quite grab it,' Scott said. 'But that is, to an extent, the competition we’re in.'
Scott dismissed concerns over Jeremy Cameron’s sore hand after the star forward failed to score a goal from just seven disposals. He also praised Patrick Dangerfield, who after a 'slow build' into the season proved critics wrong with an outstanding performance.
Unleashed in the midfield, Dangerfield dominated early and finished with 30 disposals, seven clearances, and a goal. Scott noted that Dangerfield had missed approximately 10 weeks of training this year but gradually rebuilt his fitness.
'He definitely showed that he’s still got it,' Scott said. 'We fall into the trap as well - you sort of get seduced by the magnet - but there’s under-prepared Patrick and there’s more what we saw tonight. It’s a bit like life. You should treat things as they are, not as you wish them to be.'
