Geelong Coach Chris Scott Furious After Cats' Heartbreaking One-Point Loss to Hawthorn
Geelong coach Chris Scott was left visibly fuming and shut the door on media in the rooms after the Cats suffered a devastating one-point loss to Hawthorn in an Easter Monday classic. The Cats had led by 13 points late in the final quarter and were ahead by one goal with less than two minutes remaining, but they couldn't hold on against a resilient Hawks side.
Dramatic Finish Sees Hawthorn Snatch Victory
Hawthorn quickly levelled the scores before veteran forward Jack Gunston emerged as the hero, scoring a clever point in the final 10 seconds to secure the win. It was a bitter pill to swallow for Geelong, who had looked poised to win the match for most of the last quarter. Scott locked out the media post-game and even inadvertently closed the door on assistant coach Nathan Buckley, highlighting the intense frustration in the Cats' camp.
A shattered Geelong playing group after that loss, giving up a 13-point lead midway through the final term, said 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary from the rooms. And Coach Chris Scott was visibly filthy in the rooms post-game, shutting the doors on waiting media. And momentarily, even his assistant coach in Nathan Buckley.
Key Moments and Player Reactions
When Shannon Neale marked and goaled with less than two minutes remaining, it seemed Geelong would hold on for victory. However, the Hawks immediately hit back as Mitch Lewis levelled the scores with a strong mark and goal. This set up a thrilling finish, with Hawthorn captain James Sicily taking a clutch mark and switching the ball forward, leading to Gunston's decisive point from close range.
Geelong midfielder Tom Atkins spoke to 7NEWS after the match, admitting his side let their guard down on the final play. I'd say it was the mids. Yeah, Newcombe and I forget who the other player was that spat out, he said. They went early and we just probably weren't alert enough to that. And then they were just very quick on the turnover to get to the outside and then forward. So, yeah, it happens. We'll review it. We'll take learnings. And, like I said, it's good for us to have those close games be in those moments because that's what finals is going to be like.
Coaches' Post-Match Comments
Speaking after the match, a measured Chris Scott said his side probably didn't deserve to win. There was some poor execution on both sides, almost a case of the team that could have had a bit of composure and take their chances late (would win), he said. There were some strange ones late, also some 50-50 calls as well that could have gone either way. I didn't think we played well all game, I'd probably have to have a look at it a bit closer, but I'm never happy to lose but I thought they had their chances to win it late and we almost stole it. But with the score the way it was, it looked like it was the other way round. I thought from early in the game we weren't executing the way that we can.
Meanwhile, Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell praised his players for the comeback, which snapped Geelong's five-game winning streak over Hawthorn. He noted that he and his assistant coaches couldn't hear each other on the bench late in the game, crediting the victory entirely to the players' efforts. Our players this time get to write their names into the history of what's a great rivalry, Mitchell said. For the next 10 years you'll show the last couple of minutes of that game. And all of our new players, who perhaps haven't done that against the Cats, they get to be a part of it for the first time. I was really proud of the lads that we could get over them today.
