Geelong coach Chris Scott concedes Saturday’s AFL qualifying final against Fremantle could turn spiteful given the two clubs’ history.
The Dockers, who knocked the Cats out of last year’s finals, were angered by the AFL’s decision to fixture the match at Simonds Stadium rather than in Melbourne.
But the rivalry between the two clubs didn’t need any further heat added.
There’s been a series of noteworthy recent incidents between them, including former Cat Matthew Scarlett delivering a jab to Hayden Ballantyne last season, while Ballantyne was suspended for striking Paul Chapman in the same game.
Steve Johnson was also banned for striking Ballantyne in this year’s pre-season and James Kelly missed the start of the season over an incident with Docker Tendai Mzungu in last year’s finals.
Scott said there was potential for tempers to flare again.
“You’d be crazy to deny there have been some heated moments,” the Cats coach said.
“The potential is there. They could antagonise us and potentially we could respond in a bad way.”
Scott will instruct his players to stick within the rules without losing their aggressive edge.
“We want our players to play near the edge because that’s what competitors do,” he said.
“We’re expecting Fremantle to be the same.”
“Our players are really clear on what you can and can’t do and we won’t be stepping over that edge.”
While the decision to stage the game in Geelong has been much-debated, Scott said it meant a lot to the city and region but it would mean little in terms of the game itself.
“I don’t think it will be the reason we win or lose,” he said.
Scott said little could be read into last year’s elimination final defeat from the Dockers, given the degree to which the sides have changed or Geelong’s round 14 belting of Fremantle, when the Dockers were missing some of their biggest names.
Both sides will be near full strength on Sunday.
Scott is confident Mark Blicavs will play despite the athletic ruckman falling heavily on his head against Brisbane on Saturday.
He said star forward Tom Hawkins, who has been hampered by a back injury, was a likely, but not certain starter.
But there should be no selection concerns for triple-premiership star Paul Chapman, who recently returned from injury and is set for his 250th AFL game.
“He’s a competitor and on the big stage there’s few better,” Scott said.