Geelong Cats this week will celebrate the milestone of Senior Coach Chris Scott when he coaches game 305 and becomes the longest serving coach in Geelong history, surpassing the great Reg Hickey.

Joining the Cats ahead of the 2011 season, Scott has displayed an exceptional ability to lead and inspire the Cats across the last 13 seasons as Geelong’s Senior Coach.

With an impressive win-loss record of 209 wins, 3 draws and 92 losses, Scott has coached Geelong to 28 Finals appearances, including achieving the ultimate success on two occasions, leading the Club to an AFL Premiership in 2011 and 2022.

Scott’s record as a coach measures up with some of the best to ever coach Australian Rules football, holding the highest win percentage (68.75%), for a coach that has been in charge for 100 or more games. Under Scott’s guidance, the Cats have consistently challenged for September success, only missing Finals on one occasion under his tenure.

Scott passes Geelong great Reg Hickey, an iconic figure in Cats history. Serving as the Club’s Head Coach from 1932 to 1959, Hickey’s impact on the Club was significant. Regarded as a true pioneer of the game, Hickey was involved in four Geelong VFL Premierships, one as a player (1931), one as a captain-coach (1937), and two as a non-playing coach (1951, 1952).

Instilling a winning culture that remains ingrained in the Cats’ DNA, Hickey is also in Geelong’s Team of the Century, a two-time Carji Greeves Medal winner (1928, 1934) and was the Club’s captain from 1932 to 1940.

Geelong Cats CEO Steve Hocking congratulated Scott on the milestone.

“This week is a historic moment for our Club as we congratulate Chris, his wife Sarah and daughter Leila on this significant achievement of becoming the Club’s longest serving coach.

“To pass the great Reg Hickey is a great accomplishment, on behalf of the Geelong Football Club, we continue to extend our gratitude to Reg for how he led our Club with distinction and the legacy that continues to live daily at the football club.

“Chris’ approach to player development and empathy towards his players makes him a player’s coach, he’s always had the mindset to create the best environment so the players can be the best version of themselves.

“He has a deep understanding of the game, and his tactical nous especially on gameday is exceptional which has earned him respect not just from players, coaching staff and fans from Geelong, but across the entire competition.

“We thank Chris for his leadership, his continued progressive thinking in the way we operate our program and the environment he provides the playing group to be their best each day and compete for team success each year.

“We look forward to Chris continuing to lead our football program, whilst continuing to chase Greatness.”

Chris Scott coaching career (courtesy of AFL Historian)

MOST GAMES AS COACH OF GEELONG

MISCELLANEOUS

• Appointed senior coach of Geelong ahead of the 2011 season.
• 2 Premierships (2011 & 2022) from 3 Grand Final appearances (2020 the third).
• Scott has been named coach of the All Australian team twice, in 2011 and 2022.
• Won a premiership in his first year in charge of the club, the first coach to do that since Alan Joyce in 1988.
• Has coached 117 players in games, 27 of them for over 100 games, 6 of them in over 200 matches.
• Has had the pleasure of telling 61 players that they will be making their AFL debut with those 61 players have currently gone on to play 3,656 games between them.
• One of 11 people to have coached a club for at least 300 games. Essendon are the only other club with two people in this group (Dick Reynolds & Kevin Sheedy)
• 2015 Round 23 is the only time in Scott’s 304 game coaching career where it was known at the start of the game that it was not possible for Geelong to win the premiership that year.
• Made finals in 11 of his first 12 seasons. This year Scott is aiming to become the 10th person to have coached in 12 different finals campaigns. The nine coaches before him are all in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Reg Hickey leads the Cats for 9 finals campaigns.
• 209 wins - a winning percentage of 68.75% The best by any coach with over 100 games in charge – John Coleman next with 67.67%
• 245 of the 304 games have been with Joel Selwood as his captain. This is the most by any captain and coach pairing in VFL/AFL game.
• Scott and Tom Hawkins have been together for 195 wins which is the 2nd most by any coach and player pairing (Jock McHale and Gordon Coventry – 220 wins)
• 97 of his games have been at Kardinia Park, closing in on Reg Hickey’s 100 games at the ground. Hickey coached another 45 games at Corio Oval.

MOST GAMES PLAYED UNDER CHRIS SCOTT