By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
THE EYES of the football world will be on Geelong tomorrow night – and not just for Joel Selwood’s 200th game.
Audiences around the country – perhaps in Perth particularly – will be fascinated to see how the Geelong crowd responds to the dramas surrounding Sydney’s Adam Goodes.
Most commentators have agreed that if any crowd can provide a circuit-breaker in the booing of the Swan’s champion it will be at Kardinia Park.
Now it’s up to the crowd to demonstrate whether the commentators are correct.
Players from both sides will try to set the scene when they enter Simonds Stadium as one on Saturday night to run through a joint banner.
Cats coach Chris Scott said the club had put in a lot of work with the AFL, players association and the Swans to recognise the issue and do everything possible to encourage good crowd behaviour.
“There can be no excuse for booing him in the future,” Scott declared this week.
“We’re really confident and hopeful that our supporters will support our players really strongly but be respectful of the opposition as well.
“There will be an element, as there is in society, that chooses not to listen to reason and choose not to behave for reason only they can explain.
“If that happens it’ll be a bit depressing and I think our players will be disappointed in those people but we’ll also acknowledge there’s not a whole lot more we can do about it.”
Scott dismissed suggestions that any booing could temporarily halt the game, saying contrived outcomes were pointless.
“If you’re talking really radical things like the game being stopped then I tend to think they have the most impact if they’re organic and unplanned.
“Am I optimistic that we’ve moved forward? Yeah, I am, but I’m an optimist.”
Scott did pause to remind everyone that although the issue of racial vilification in the AFL was significant, the ultimate reason for the two sides being on the ground was to play an important game of football.
In a rare night game this season, the two sides play for crucial finals spots in the run home.
Scott said the players were determined to focus on the game by playing “as hard as we can” while still giving Sydney “the respect they deserve”.
Scott also took time to laud his inspirational captain, hoping the playing group would play well to acknowledge Joel Selwoods milestone.
“It feels like it’s only the beginning,” Scott said.
“Over the past couple of years we’ve been moving into a different phase not only of his career but for the club’s position within the competition.
“He can lead this club for a long time. It’s been a pretty good 200 games but we’re more excited about the next 100.
“The thing I admire, and our supporters I suspect, is that when we’ve been under pressure Joel’s the one that stands up.”
