Scott, Cox deflect concerns they’ll use Origin to recruit stars; Major injury worry for Giants

Chris Scott has declared that AFL clubs have been speaking to rival players for years in response to claims he will use his time as Victorian coach to form connections with potential Geelong recruits.

Scott said there was as much chance he would turn players off as he would be to win them over while he was embedded as a State Of Origin leader in Perth.

The AFL decision to name Scott and Dean Cox as State Of Origin coaches this week drew criticism from Ken Hinkley, who labelled it an unfair advantage.

“This is a great opportunity for a coach to create a relationship with a player they may or may not be looking at,” Hinkley told SEN radio.

Scott said he had not heard the Hinkley interview nor his suggestion that State Of Origin should be overseen by neutral coaches not aligned to a club.

“I would like to think that we, at Geelong at least, have been a little, and I think every club’s hit there now, but we’re a little bit more realistic than has been publicly acknowledged over the last decade,” Scott said on Friday.

“I still think that there are some people that think it’s not the right thing for clubs to talk to players from other clubs, but it’s been going on for decades.

“This might be a little bit more of an obvious forum to spend a little bit more time together, but, again, just because you spend time together doesn’t mean they’re going to like you. So there’s that risk as well.

“They might get to know me and go, ‘that’s not one guy I want to play under’. There’s that possibility as well.”

Western Australia coach Cox bluntly dismissed Hinkley’s claim that he could use his time in Perth as a recruiting mission for the Sydney Swans.

“My greater purpose is to get these players to perform well for WA, so it’s not about recruiting,” Cox said. “I think what you’ll find is most of these players, they’re on long-term deals because they deserve it.”

AFL boss Andrew Dillon said the league thought the “way to get the best buy-in from the players and clubs was to have current coaches”.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and Richmond premiership player Shaun Grigg are working as Scott’s assistants.

“To have ‘Coxy’ with Justin Longmuir for WA and ‘Mitch’ and Chris Scott for Victoria – all incredible coaches – (and) I think the clubs would feel more comfortable,” Dillon told SEN.

“That doesn’t mean into the future a recently retired coach like Hinkley couldn’t do it or pay a role as well.”

Mitchell’s inclusion has roused the interest of Bombers fans, following his attempts last year to lure former Essendon captain Zach Merrett to Hawthorn. Merrett is part of the Victorian squad in Perth. Fellow Victorian representatives Zak Butters and Ben King join the free agency list at the end of this season.

‘Fearing the worst’: Green goes down with suspected ACL

The pre-season injury curse has struck at Greater Western Sydney following news this morning that prime onballer Tom Green has been sent for scans for a suspected ACL injury.

The Giants released a statement to say that Green hurt his knee during an intra-club practice match on Friday morning.

“We are hoping for the best, but fearing for the worst regarding a suspected ACL injury,” GWS footy boss Jason McCartney said.

Green’s knee buckled during a tackle, and he was helped from the ground by trainers.

It would be a massive blow for the Giants’ 2026 premiership hopes if Green were spend any amount of time on the sidelines.

The 25-year-old won the club’s best and fairest last year and is the mainstay of their midfield.

Further weakening the Giants’ on-ball brigade, Josh Kelly is expected to miss most of the season after undergoing major hip surgery.

Green has five teammates – Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Lachie Ash, Stephen Coniglio and Sam Taylor – preparing to take part in Saturday’s State Of Origin clash in Perth.

Much has been made about the prospect of elite players suffering injuries in the match. A point not lost on Victorian coach Chris Scott.

He conceded he would have his heart in his mouth when Victoria took on Western Australia, considering Geelong was represented by Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Stewart, Bailey Smith, Max Holmes and Lawson Humphreys.

“But no more than I will on Monday when we play a practice match against Hawthorn,” Scott said.

“I was just across the news of Tom Green’s injury at GWS. And, you know, even talking with the guys, I think it’s a terrible thing. No one feels anything but sympathy for GWS and Tom in particular.

“But it just does highlight that these things happen at this time of year, whether it’s an inconsequential training session or State of Origin at Optus (Stadium).

“These things are risks, but one that clearly all the players and the coaching staff have been more than happy to take.”

Victorian selector Garry Lyon also acknowledged that injuries would hit players at this time of year.

“Will Day is out for half a season because he injured himself at training,” Lyon said.

“Injuries happen at training. They happen in practice matches. They may happen Saturday night. It is accepted.”

Three players have already suffered season-ending injuries during pre-season – Carlton forward Jesse Motlop, North Melbourne defender Jackson Archer and Port Adelaide ruckman Ivan Soldo.

At Melbourne, they will be without rugged onballer Jack Viney for a large chunk of the season after he had surgery on his Achilles.

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