Chris Scott wants finals stability at Cats

No team has used more AFL players or handed out more debuts in 2017 than Geelong.

Coach of the Cats Chris Scott

Geelong coach Chris Scott is keen to slow down the selection turnstiles. (AAP)

Come September, high-flying Geelong will be chasing the AFL flag.

Before then - and well before then - coach Chris Scott wants to know who he'll pick for his finals sides.

Just seven players have been ever-presents in Scott's teams this season.

There's been a constant shuffling down at Simonds Stadium, both due to injuries and form.

Scott has yet to name an unchanged side this season, averaging three changes a match.

Against Hawthorn on Saturday, Scott has again moved the magnets on the team whiteboard around, with fit-again pair Scott Selwood and Daniel Menzel replacing Wylie Buzza and Zach Guthrie.

No AFL club has used more players this season than Geelong, with 36 players representing the club to date.

It's understandable then that Scott is keen to slow down the selection turnstiles as the business end of the season approaches.

"We're far from settled on what our best 22 looks like which is a good position to be in," he said.

"That's not to say we won't be looking to settle that as soon as possible, injuries permitting.

The player rotation hasn't been bad for the Cats, with Scott saying he feels like "we have a few more options that maybe a month ago we didn't."

That includes more first-year talent than any other side.

Scott has given an AFL debut to eight men this season - more than any other club - as well as welcoming Zach Tuohy and Aaron Black to a new AFL home.

In 2018, plenty at Geelong would like to welcome back dual Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett.

The former Cat attempted to make the switch after last season without success, and Scott said he hoped milestone man and Ablett's ex-Suns teammate Zac Smith could help make the pitch.

With his tongue firmly in cheek, Scott said he'd engaged his ruckman as a recruiter.

"I pressed him on it. I did say 'did you talk (to Ablett) about footy at all' and he said that he didn't. I don't know whether to believe him," he said.

"Zac's the one with all the power at the Cats with that situation.

"Don't worry about (list manager) Stephen Wells. Don't worry about me. Go straight to Zac Smith. And if you can get something out of him can you let me know?"

GEELONG: EVER-PRESENTS AND NEW FACES

Played every game in 2017: (7) Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan, Tom Lonergan, Andrew Mackie, Steven Motlop, Harry Taylor, Zach Tuohy.

Debuts in 2017: (8) Wylie Buzza, Jordan Cunico, Zach Guthrie, Mark O'Connor, Brandan Parfitt, James Parsons, Sam Simpson, Tom Stewart.


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Source: AAP



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