Geelong coach Chris Scott doesn't think Richmond's midfield unit is as dominant as many seem to and has backed his onball brigade to win a head-to-head battle.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Rival coaches have lost plenty of sleep pondering plans to negate superstar Tiger Dustin Martin, but Scott doesn't see too many one-on-one duels playing out on Friday night in their much-anticipated preliminary final at the MCG.
Instead, he's happy to wind up Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Tim Kelly and friends and let them go at it.
"I'm not sure (Richmond's) numbers around the contest reflect the dominance that some people think they have," Scott said.
"There's a strong argument to say that they're going to be two pretty good midfields going at each other.
"I suspect there won't be too many individual match-ups, it will be more group versus group.
"And I'm prepared to say that we're happy to take them on in that area."
Richmond will carry the momentum of a 10-game winning streak into the clash, but Scott is confident the Cats "have a method that troubles them".
An understrength Tigers team suffered a 67-point loss to Geelong in round 12 this year, but the tables were turned in their two meetings last year.
"I'm not a big fan of looking too far back," Scott said.
"But I don't think we were anywhere near as good a team as we are now last year and I think they were a better team last year than they are now."
Scott is optimistic Gary Rohan will overcome a knee injury to potentially replace suspended star forward Tom Hawkins, but Mitch Duncan's knee concern will sideline him for another week.
Hawkins will join Duncan in the stands as he serves a one-match ban for striking West Coast's Will Schofield.
Scott hasn't counselled the burly forward after his fifth suspension since 2016, but will find time to have a word in his ear if the Cats make it through to the grand final.
"If he gets the chance to play again this year then that's the appropriate time for that conversation," he said.
"He's probably paid a very heavy but appropriate price, so looking into the future we've got to do what we can to make sure that it doesn't happen again.
"But we never hang our players out to dry and we won't."
Australian Associated Press
