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Live sport on SN this weekend“I find it strange”: Cats coach “hardly seen” this off-season
SEN • February 3rd, 2026 10:27 am
Chris Scott has reportedly been on “extended leave” from Geelong this off-season.
Scott, who is entering his 16th season as senior coach, is of course juggling his time between the Cats and the Victorian State of Origin team.
But last season’s runner-up has had extra leave according to Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary.
“Chris Scott also on extended leave from the Cattery, delegating to his assistants,” said Cleary on 7News.
Furthermore, SEN’s Sam Edmund has been informed that Scott has been “hardly seen” at Geelong.
“Chris Scott has always done things a little bit different, it’s been a less rigid process in terms of meetings and obligations,” Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.
“But this, on the surface, would appear to be stretching it. The news from Mitch Cleary on Channel 7 that Chris Scott has taken extra leave from the Cats ahead of Origin.
“Separate to Mitch’s report, yesterday afternoon I got a bit of information from someone that used the phrase “hardly seen” - Chris Scott hardly seen at Geelong.
“That’s just not of late, that was pre-Christmas and post-Christmas. I’m not sure what “hardly seen” actually constitutes, whether James Rahilly or James Kelly are running the show down there.
“There might well be a very good reason pertaining to life away from the game, and fair enough. But hardly seen for a senior coach would be highly, highly unusually no matter how much faith you’ve got in your system and personnel.”
Edmund added: “Those two things happened on the same day yesterday - the information I received, and then I saw that ‘extended leave’ was the phrasing that Mitch Cleary used on Channel 7.
“The explanation I have been given by someone is it’s to do with state coaching football commitments.”
Kane Cornes admits he finds the situation “strange” given the 2026 AFL season is rapidly approaching.
“I find it strange,” said Cornes. “You’re hesitant to question Geelong and their program because it’s been the most successful program of the last 15 or so years.
“But it’s only successful until it’s not. With 31 days to go before they take on Gold Coast - who are going to be absolute humming - in Opening Round, this is strange that the coach isn’t there.
“129 days since they played in the Grand Final. I would have thought that’s a fair break. No worries for Chris who is re-signed and has gone deep into a lot of finals campaigns and has probably worked a lot longer than some other coaches have. An extended break, no worries.
“I find it strange that he’s not there now. He is doing the State of Origin of course. If I was a Geelong person or a young player or someone who has just been drafted to the Cats I’d be going, ‘Well, he’s off doing the State of Origin stuff. I think our stuff is a little bit more important’.
“I’m just being honest that I find it strange that with 31 days to go before they take on Gold Coast the coach isn’t there. Even more so to the point that he’s hardly been sighted throughout the pre-season.”
Cornes continued: “Performance will dictate how we look back on this in hindsight. I’m telling you if they lose to Gold Coast then they take on Fremantle, Adelaide and Hawthorn - there isn’t a harder first month against top four contenders.
“If they start 0-4 - which is a possibility - and then they play West Coast and the Western Bulldogs, so there’s a chance they could be 1-5. Then we’re going, ‘Remember when we spoke about Chris Scott not being at training at all until two weeks before the start of the season? Well, that’s hurt Geelong’.
“Then it becomes a big deal. Right now it’s a story, it’s definitely of interest to me, I find it strange. But if they start the season and go bang, bang, bang, then you go, ‘Ok, they got it right again, who are we to question them’.
“Performance will dictate that and it’s only time that will be able to tell.”
