Geelong Coach Chris Scott Highlights Oisin Mullin’s Growth
Geelong coach Chris Scott has taken an unusual step by publicly praising the development of one of his club’s players, a move that reflects his confidence in their potential. Oisin Mullin, who has been instrumental in limiting the impact of Magpies superstar Nick Daicos, has caught the attention of Scott, who believes the 26-year-old is only beginning to tap into his full capabilities.
“I’m pretty excited about his development,” Scott told Fox Footy’s AFL360. “Generally, I don’t make a habit of going into detail publicly about how we think our players are evolving. That’s usually a private matter. We don’t want to talk about our weaknesses to the rest of the football world, and we certainly don’t want to gloat about our strengths either.”
However, Scott made an exception when it came to Mullin. He noted that the team has long believed that Mullin could be more than just a defensive player. “We’ve thought about Oisin being much more than just a dour, negative (tagging) player,” he said.
Mullin’s offensive improvements were on display during the second half when he made a quick burst from the first centre ball-up, leading to an immediate goal for Ollie Dempsey. The former Gaelic football star left Daicos, a player once compared to him by Zac Tuohy, behind.
“Nick Daicos is the best player in the comp, with the greatest respect to Marcus Bontempelli, so it’s always a difficult role (quelling his influence),” Scott continued. “We like that part of his (Oisin’s) game, but we thought offensively, he’s becoming quite a complete player, so that was really exciting.”
Team Performance and Strategy
The Cats’ performance against Collingwood was impressive, as they moved the ball swiftly through handball chains. They recorded the second-most metres by hand in the last 11 seasons, continuing their strong showing from the previous season when they led the league in kick-to-handball ratio. This year, they sit eighth in the same category.
When asked if the decision to focus on handball was a deliberate strategy to keep the Magpies at bay, Scott provided insight into his coaching philosophy. “For a long time, we’ve been a team that is prepared to tweak the way we play, almost week to week,” he said. “I used to think that was a dangerous approach, but in the modern game, if you play the same way all the time, irrespective of your opposition, you set yourself up to fail.”
Upcoming Match
The Cats are now heading to the Gabba to face their long-standing rivals, Brisbane, on Thursday night. This match promises to be another test of their evolving strategies and growing confidence. With Scott’s emphasis on adaptability and player development, the team is poised to continue their journey of improvement and success.
