Chris Scott has derided the AFL over its willingness to hand out fines, arguing head office is much less able to admit its own mistakes.
The Geelong coach did not hold back on Saturday, making his thoughts clear about the game’s administration.
Initially, Scott again defended player Bailey Smith after he was fined twice for incidents during the Easter Monday win over Hawthorn.
Then Scott again criticised the AFL when asked about the breakdown in communications during the Collingwood-Essendon match, given Geelong are also playing Carlton on Sunday at the MCG.
“So probably what would have happened if the clubs did something that the AFL didn’t like, they would have fined us. That’s what they do,” Scott said when asked about the comms issue.
“You just move on because you know that’s the way their world works. When they see something they don’t like, they punish people.
“When they muck up, maybe they’ll say sorry – but even that’s unlikely.”
Scott went further, wondering aloud what happens to the money the AFL raises from its fines.
“They know what I think, they just don’t particularly care. They think it’s good policy to throw out fines left, right and centre,” he said.
“Is it a deterrent? I would argue no, it’s not. Does it treat them like juveniles? I think it does.
“They say the money goes to concussion research – I wouldn’t mind auditing that.”
Earlier in his weekly media conference, Scott argued that Smith had been fined for “very, very minor” incidents against Hawthorn.
He was penalised for hitting the ball into Jarman Impey’s face and for an obscene gesture. It’s the second time this month Smith has been fined for a gesture to opposition fans.
“The fact that it’s a fine is bewildering to me, the same with obscene gestures,” Scott said, doubling down on similar comments he made about Smith post-match.
“Maybe they’re a bit prudish at the AFL. He spoke to me about it, I reinforced to him that we do want him to be himself.
“We’re not trying to curtail him too much, but there will be a point – there’s a framework he needs to work within, the same as other players.
“But there are far more serious things in the game that should be addressed.”
Scott was also the latest person to criticise the AFL for fining Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley for his taunting of Hawthorn player Jack Ginnivan after last year’s semi-final win, then heavily promoting the re-match in Gather Round.
“I would query how consistent the AFL are with these things. On one hand, they seem to love it and promote things like Gather Round, and Port and Hawthorn,” he said.
“Then on the other hand, they seem to feel like they need to fine people for stuff they are promoting.
“I’d pick a side if I were them.”
He also rejected the league’s argument that the behaviour of AFL players directly influences what happens in lower leagues.
“I’m not sure that’s our responsibility. I think we are elite … by world standards, this is as elite as it gets,” he said.
“For them to be overlaying their obligation that they’ve chosen to take to grass-roots footy, onto us – absolutely, when it comes to violence in the game and playing within the rules.
“This stuff, it just doesn’t matter. In the modern world, if flipping the bird is just horribly obscene and a shock to people’s senses, then, I don’t know – that’s not the world I’m living in.
“You get a lot more obscene stuff watching music videos on YouTube, I would suggest.”
