By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG coach Chris Scott is “acutely” aware of his team’s shortcomings, exposed in the first month of the season.
Scott said the coaching staff understood what the issues were internally and the areas needing improvement.
The inconsistencies in Geelong’s game against North Melbourne – leaving the side struggling at one win from four – were the most disappointing, he told Wednesday’s media conference.
“There are issues we’re dealing with generally across the first month of footy that haven’t been patterns through the course of the game.
“We had isolated periods here and there that really cost us.
“The aim for us is to work on those inconsistencies, highlight the things we do well and when that slips a bit, make sure we fix it.”
Geelong’s dry scoring periods were a concern.
“We’d like to score more,” Scott said.
“We prioritise stopping the opposition scoring first. But we’ve scored freely at times and not at others.”
Scott said home crowd support over the last two rounds had impressed him despite Cats chief Brian Cook calling for fans to keep the faith along what could be a “bumpy ride”.
“The crowd were a little more involved in the game than in the past,” Scott noted.
“Embrace the position we’re in and be as positive as possible. Great clubs stick together when things aren’t going quite perfectly.
“That’s our challenge.”
Geelong’s older players could be following in Steve Johnson’s footsteps as the substitute in more Geelong games this season.
Scott said using older players as the sub would be part of decision-making for the team’s future.
“We need to put some thought into what our priorities are for the game and for the future as well.
“We’ll give consideration to more experienced players being the sub as opposed to (younger).”
Scott said Johnson’s response to being handed the vest was positive given the way he approached the job and had a big influence on the game and his teammates.
Defender Tom Lonergan will be in the Cat’s squad to meet Richmond, also coming off a disappointing loss, at the MCG on Saturday.
Injured pair Andrew Mackie and Mathew Stokes would miss again but the return of Josh Cowan from injury and his good VFL performances offered increased optimism around the Cattery, Scott said.
