Geelong coach Chris Scott will enter the club’s Hall of Fame next month alongside two key players from the Cats’ period of dominance since 2007.
Scott, who joined the club as the replacement for Mark Thompson ahead of the 2011 season, will be inducted alongside two-time premiership players Harry Taylor and Travis Varcoe.
He led the Cats to premiership success in his first year in charge and again in 2022, missing the finals only twice.
Scott, who passed Reg Hickey as the longest-serving coach in Geelong history late in the 2023 season, has a record of 217 wins from 317 games, with his win-loss percentage just under 69 per cent.
It is the second hall of fame he’s been inducted to, having been honoured by the Brisbane Lions, where he played in two premierships and won the AFL’s Rising Star award in 1994.
“(I’m) just so respectful of the people who have helped make this footy club what it is,” Scott said at his weekly media conference.
“I’m led to believe Harry Taylor’s being inducted, Travis Varcoe, (and) Cameron Ling’s a Legend.
“I think if Cameron Ling was here, he would talk about just how honoured he is to be in that group of people.
“My mind just goes back to 2010, when I was a 34-year-old assistant coach without any great designs on ever becoming a head coach, and I was parachuted into a great club with great people, and they’ve helped make me who I am.”
“I’ve always been of the view right from the start – even before we had success in our first year – that, whatever happens, I’m going to owe this club a lot more than it owes me.”
Taylor played 280 games between 2008-2020 after being drafted from WAFL club East Fremantle at pick 17 in the 2007 National Draft.
He played in the 2009 and 2011 premierships, losing deciders in 2008 and 2020.
Taylor also earned All-Australian selection twice, was runner-up in the 2013 Carji Greeves Medal and was vice-captain to Joel Selwood from 2014-17 during a ten-year stint in the club’s leadership group.
Varcoe, who was given the honour of being the first player to wear No.5 following the retirement of Gary Ablett Snr nine years earlier, arrived at Geelong with pick 15 in the 2005 National Draft.
He played 138 games in the Hoops, including the 2009 and 2011 premiership victories, kicking the first goal in the latter inside the opening 15 seconds.
He joined Collingwood ahead of the 2015 season and played 92 games, including their 2018 grand final loss to West Coast.
“Harry and Travis have both made enormous contributions to the Club over their playing careers,” Cats CEO Steve Hocking said.
“During his playing career, Harry was a relentless competitor on the field, and rightly renowned for his football knowledge, always striving for improvement.
“He was able to achieve much individually, but importantly also played a role in helping those around him, both on and off the field.
“At the other end of the ground, Travis was operating with a team of all mentality. While he produced plenty of extraordinary highlights, his work rate and energy made him a catalyst for the team.
“He is also a real leader in the community, and it is not a surprise to see he has gone into coaching roles following his playing career as he looks to continue to share his knowledge of the game.”
Scott, Taylor, and Varcoe will be inducted, and Cameron Ling will be elevated to Legend Status at a function on Saturday, June 22.
