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“The decision to not play Max Holmes when he has been so critical for us this season was just brutal,” Scott said.

“Our fitness staff are elite. They got him to the point ... against all the odds where he probably could have played.”

Scott opted instead to include O’Connor in the starting 22,with Brandan Parfitt becoming the medical sub. Holmes believed he was every chance to play as he met all the fitness team’s demands.The Cats have had a policy in 2022 not to take risks with injured players.

“The decision was nuanced,” Scott said. “We just felt that with quality players Brandan Parfitt and Sam Menegola and Mark O’Connor there we just could not take the risk and put the rest of the team in jeopardy.”

Sam De Koning and Max Holmes during the grand final parade.Credit:AFL Photos

In just his second season,Holmes had been outstanding for the Cats,providing pace and skill on the wing as he became one of the major reasons Geelong were re-vitalised in 2022 and reached the grand final.

Scott said at the start of his post-match press conference it had been remiss of him during his earlier speech on the dais not to mention Holmes and Menegola,and other Cats who missed out on a place in the side.

Sydney took the punt and played forward Sam Reid,despite him suffering an adductor injury,and dropped Logan McDonald,who had played 17 games in 2022 and five consecutive matches leading into the grand final. He selected Hayden McLean,who had not played since round eight,to replace McDonald.

Reid was subbed out at half-time unable to run,with coach Swans coach John Longmire saying they “buggered it up”.

“We made a mistake there too,” Longmire said.

“Not much went right. We were obviously confident,that’s why we picked him,but we made a mistake.”

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