Karl Stefanovic has mocked Geelong coach Chris Scott for complaining about abuse from Adelaide fans, telling him to ‘suck it up’ and joking that he cops far worse treatment every day.
The television host weighed into the debate after Scott criticised Adelaide Oval’s setup following Geelong’s one-point loss to the Crows on Thursday night.
Scott was caught in a tense exchange with supporters at three-quarter time as he walked through a section of the crowd to join his players before the final term.
After the match, the Cats coach questioned why AFL coaches were required to pass through spectator areas during games.
‘This is one of the best stadiums in the world – I love it – but no, it’s an oversight that the coaches should have to walk through the crowd,’ Scott said.
‘I don’t want to do it at any ground.’
Karl Stefanovic has mocked Chris Scott for complaining about abuse from Adelaide fans, telling the Geelong coach to ‘suck it up’
The Cats coach was involved in a tense interaction with supporters during Geelong’s one-point loss to Adelaide
Scott later described the supporters who targeted him as ’nuffies’ but said he did not respond to them
When asked whether fans had directed comments at him, Scott replied: ‘Of course they do. They’re nuffies, but that’s OK.’
His remarks sparked discussion across the football world, with some agreeing coaches should not be exposed to opposition supporters during matches. But Stefanovic was having none of it.
Speaking on Triple M’s Friday Huddle, the Today show co-host took aim at the Geelong mentor.
‘I heard Chris Scott, you know when he was bitching about the Adelaide crowd, this is what New South Wales people are, they’re soft like Chris Scott,’ Stefanovic said.
‘I mean just suck it up mate.’
Stefanovic then joked that he regularly receives abuse from members of the public while driving.
‘I’ve got a Toyota and I’ve got my podcast sticker on the side, I get spat at every day right?’ he said.
‘I get spat at as I drive down the street by old women. Just put up with it and get on with it. Put your pants on, Scotty.’
Kane Cornes acknowledged coaches can face an intimidation factor when walking through opposition supporters at Adelaide Oval
The comments came as debate intensified over whether coaches should be required to walk through opposition supporters at Adelaide Oval.
SEN commentator Kane Cornes acknowledged the arrangement was ‘not ideal’ but said abuse was part of the job for senior AFL figures.
Western Bulldogs assistant coach Daniel Pratt also said Adelaide Oval was unique because coaches were required to pass through sections of opposition supporters.
‘You do get feedback along the way,’ Pratt said.
‘I know Chris hasn’t been a fan of that.
‘You don’t want any coaches to be subjected to abuse.
‘But Adelaide is one place where the intimidation factor can come in.’
The issue is not a new one for Scott.
In 2021, he criticised Adelaide Oval’s access arrangements after being tripped while making his way through a crowd before a match.
The latest incident came as Geelong were left ruing missed opportunities in a narrow defeat to Adelaide.
A second loss in as many weeks means the Cats have slipped to 8-5 ahead of a crunch clash with Gold Coast, with their place in the top four under threat.
