By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG’S coaching panel went back to school this week in hope of teaching Richmond a Sunday MCG lesson.
Chris Scott this week was strong on learning from the Cats’ mistakes against Port Adelaide last Sunday, leading to the side’s first 2014 defeat.
“We made some strategic errors going into the game as a coaching group that we’ll learn from,” he admitted.
“Even in our good wins there are some things in retrospect we felt we could have done better.
“Some of those cost us, particularly early in the game (against Port Adelaide), the way we set up the game, the match ups we went in with.
“I still feel in review that the game was going pretty well. We started the game well, we were on top for big parts of the first half but we couldn’t convert.
“It’s amazing how the complexion of the game can change when you take your chances and get a bit of a lead on the scoreboard.”
Scott insisted the coaches were accountable not only to each other but also to the players.
“We’re still working through exactly what our best footy looks like and we have some good players to come back into our team.
“It wasn’t necessarily a step backwards (but) there were so many things we did poorly that we aim to rectify this week.
“A few little tweaks and a few adjustments in our preparation hopefully will make a big difference.”
Scott dismissed any notion that Richmond was a side “under the pump” and presented a lesser challenge.
“It makes no difference,” he said.
“Are they under the pump? It’s irrelevant to me and irrelevant to our footy club, except that I guess you assume they’re going to come out with everything they’ve got and play their best.
“Professional athletes and clubs should be that every week, whether you’re under the pump or not.
“It’s almost become a sport now to kick the side that’s down in a week. (But) it changes so quickly.
“We’d be fools if we thought that we’re going to play an opposition that’s not going to try their hardest and give up when the heat’s on.
“We’re not going in with that approach at all. We’re expecting them to play at their absolute best and we need to prepare for that or we get beaten.
“I’m sure Richmond will get a bit of momentum at times this year and play some really good footy.
“We have to be ready for when they play their good footy on the weekend, that we’re prepared and equipped to deal with that.”
