Geelong coach Chris Scott was left fuming after the Cats lost to Hawthorn by one point in an Easter Monday classic, shutting the door on media in the rooms.
The Cats were leading by 13 points late in the final quarter and also one goal with less than two minutes remaining, but couldn’t hold on.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Chris Scott fuming after heartbreaking loss
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Hawthorn quickly levelled the score before Jack Gunston emerged as the hero with a clever point in the final 10 seconds.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Cats after they looked like they would win the match for most of the last quarter.
Scott locked out the media in the rooms after the match and even inadvertently closed the door on assistant coach Nathan Buckley.
“A shattered Geelong playing group after that loss, giving up a 13-point lead midway through the final term,” 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary said from the rooms.
“And Coach Chris Scott was visibly filthy in the rooms post-game, shutting the doors on waiting media.
“And momentarily, even his assistant coach in Nathan Buckley.”
Scott was fuming after the match. Credit: Seven
When Shannon Neale marked and goaled with less than two minutes remaining, it looked like the Cats would hold on for victory.
But the Hawks immediately hit back as Mitch Lewis levelled the scores with a strong mark and goal.
That set up the thrilling finish, but despite Geelong winning the crucial centre clearance, Hawthorn captain James Sicily took a clutch mark before switching the ball as the Hawks surged forward.
The ball bounced around close to the goal before Jack Gunston was in the right place at the right time to hit the post from point-blank range with 10 seconds left.
Midfielder Tom Atkins spoke to 7NEWS after the match, saying they let their guard down for the final play.
“I’d say it was the mids. Yeah, Newcombe and I forget who the other player was that spat out,” he said.
“They went early and we just probably weren’t alert enough to that. And then they were just very quick on the turnover to get to the outside and then forward.
“So, yeah, it happens. We’ll review it. We’ll take learnings. And, like I said, it’s good for us to have those close games be in those moments because that’s what finals is going to be like.”
Speaking after the match, a measured Scott said his side probably didn’t deserve to win.
“There was some poor execution on both sides, almost a case of the team that could have had a bit of composure and take their chances late (would win),” he said.
“There were some strange ones late, also some 50-50 calls as well that could have gone either way.
“I didn’t think we played well all game, I’d probably have to have a look at it a bit closer, but I’m never happy to lose but I thought they had their chances to win it late and we almost stole it.
“But with the score the way it was, it looked like it was the other way round.
“I thought from early in the game we weren’t executing the way that we can.”
Meanwhile, Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said he and his assistant coaches couldn’t hear each other on the bench late on and the comeback, which snapped Geelong’s five-game winning streak over Hawthorn, was entirely down to the players.
“Our players this time get to write their names into the history of what’s a great rivalry,” Mitchell said.
“For the next 10 years you’ll show the last couple of minutes of that game. And all of our new players, who perhaps haven’t done that against the Cats, they get to be a part of it for the first time.
“I was really proud of the lads that we could get over them today.”
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