Geelong coach Chris Scott has broken down just how big an impact the new centre bounce rule had during last night’s win over Collingwood.
The Cats were a goal down late in the fourth term and won a crucial centre clearance that quickly resulted in a Brandan Parfitt goal.
Geelong had even numbers inside 50 because of the 6-6-6 structure and Scott believes it was the perfect example of the impact the new rules will have in close games.
“(The 6-6-6 structure) was a huge factor. It’s unlike anything I’ve experienced as a coach and certainly at Geelong,” Scott told SEN’s Crunch Time.
“Steve Hocking made some comments that coaches are feeling a bit nude at the moment, we felt nude and impotent, which is a bad combination.
“It’s almost as vulnerable a picture as I can conjure right at the minute.
“I got home late last night and couldn’t sleep so I watched a replay of the broadcast vision and I think it was James Brayshaw who said you can put that goal (Parfitt’s goal) down to Steve Hocking, and it’s not a bad call.
“Previously with that amount of time left on the clock, Collingwood a goal up, we certainly wouldn’t have been able to generate even numbers in our forward half so I think that’s a pretty good case study as the reason for the rule coming in.”
Scott said the new rules also make it hard to put numbers behind the ball in general play.
“Late in the game, the equation is pretty simple,” he said.
“We got to a goal up and there’s not much time to go, previously it would’ve been easy to shut down the game and even after the centre bounce there was an opportunity to put numbers back.
“The risk with that is you don’t get quite organised, you’re not able to use the runner too and our view is we don’t want to lose a game through disorganisation.”
The Cats beat Collingwood by seven points and will host Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium in Round 2.
