Geelong Cats fans have praised Chris Scott for sacrificing his entire pay while continuing to work alongside the club’s skeleton coaching staff.
“How good’s that!” said Lismore grandmother and Cats fan Lynn Rossiter.
“He’s got family as well, so for him to do that… that’s so awesome.”
Member of five years Jayson Green, 18, joined several Geelong fans in praising the move.
“I think it’s great what he’s doing and other coaches should follow in his footsteps,” the Belmont local said.
Sources confirmed Scott had taken the pay cut as Geelong Football Club stood down 100 of 135 staff this week.
“I think we’re all a little bit scared at the moment and we can’t sugar-coat that part of it,” he told AFL 360 on Monday.
“There’s a lot that’s going to happen over the next couple of weeks and I suspect it’s going to get worse before it gets better and it’s going to be a monumental challenge for all of us.”
Geelong Cats had yet to respond to the Independent before deadline on if the club would refund any membership fees, with the AFL to be postponed for two months.
But the majority of members the Independent spoke to were happy for the Cats to keep the money.
“If it helps to keep the club on its feet, I’m happy to let them keep it,” said Mrs Rossiter.
“It’s going to be weird without footy.”
Mrs Rossiter, 56, said she had been a member for 30 years and Cats fan for 55.
“The kids were in nappies when we used to take them – it was when there was much more standing area.”
Meanwhile Geelong defender Mark Blicavs is under fire for hosting a rowdy party including other Cats players into the early hours of Sunday morning.
Neighbours told the Herald Sun police called twice during the night.
The club has described the party, flouting measures to prevent coronavirus spread, as inappropriate.
