TonyK
CibbuanoWin extra special: Thompson
August 3rd 2008 00:42
GEELONG coach Mark Thompson said his side's 63-point win over Richmond at Telstra Dome on Saturday night was extra special because it was Matthew Scarlett's 200th game.
Thompson said he used the milestone as extra motivation before the match.
"I did mention it (the milestone)," Thompson said.
"I told the team that they probably should put every effort into winning this game for this man because he has been such an important person for the club."
"He's an on-field role model and he's just been amazing; a little bit of who we are is because of people like him."
Thompson said Scarlett had 'changed the face of back line play'.
"I'm biased because I've coached him and seen him play and seen him develop and I've seen him take full-back into a new era," Thompson said.
"I've never seen a defender play such an attacking role and have attacking influences on a game of footy while he's playing on the best player from the opposition who kicks the most goals. I said openly this week that I think he's changed the face of back line play; he's an outstanding player."
The Cats look set to be without hard-running defender David Wojcinski and forward Paul Chapman for another week while star midfielder Gary Ablett Jnr is likely to return for Geelong's clash against Melbourne at the MCG on Friday night.
Thompson said Ablett wanted to play against the Tigers but the club opted not to risk the classy 24-year-old.
"We were pretty open this week, he did train on Wednesday night and he was fine doing a lot of things," Thompson said.
"He was a little bit sore changing direction so we decided together that he wouldn't play."
"This morning (Saturday) he did everything at training so we'd expect that he'd play next week."
Thompson said he used the milestone as extra motivation before the match.
"I did mention it (the milestone)," Thompson said.
"I told the team that they probably should put every effort into winning this game for this man because he has been such an important person for the club."
"He's an on-field role model and he's just been amazing; a little bit of who we are is because of people like him."
Thompson said Scarlett had 'changed the face of back line play'.
"I'm biased because I've coached him and seen him play and seen him develop and I've seen him take full-back into a new era," Thompson said.
"I've never seen a defender play such an attacking role and have attacking influences on a game of footy while he's playing on the best player from the opposition who kicks the most goals. I said openly this week that I think he's changed the face of back line play; he's an outstanding player."
The Cats look set to be without hard-running defender David Wojcinski and forward Paul Chapman for another week while star midfielder Gary Ablett Jnr is likely to return for Geelong's clash against Melbourne at the MCG on Friday night.
Thompson said Ablett wanted to play against the Tigers but the club opted not to risk the classy 24-year-old.
"We were pretty open this week, he did train on Wednesday night and he was fine doing a lot of things," Thompson said.
"He was a little bit sore changing direction so we decided together that he wouldn't play."
"This morning (Saturday) he did everything at training so we'd expect that he'd play next week."
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