{"id":516984,"date":"2026-03-04T00:03:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T00:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/516984\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T00:03:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T00:03:09","slug":"chris-scott-says-tanner-bruhn-faced-egregious-injustice-with-false-sexual-assault-charges-michael-voss-denies-claim-he-is-coaching-for-his-life-carlton-blues-head-coach-explains-change-in-environme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/516984\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Scott says Tanner Bruhn faced egregious injustice with false sexual assault charges, Michael Voss denies claim he is coaching for his life, Carlton Blues head coach, explains change in environment, play Sydney in Opening Round, AFL 360, latest news"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Geelong coach Chris Scott is ready to welcome back Tanner Bruhn following a \u201cegregious injustice\u201d last year.<\/p>\n<p>Bruhn missed the entire 2025 season while facing sexual assault chargers that were eventually dropped in November after a witness admitted to lying about the evidence.<\/p>\n<p>The 23-year old made his unofficial return to the field in a new role across halfback in last week\u2019s practice match against Carlton ahead of the Cats\u2019 season-opening clash with Gold Coast on Friday night.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/poster-fallback.png\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/afl\/match-centre\/AFL20260003\" class=\"sc-1wtgx8i-5 gmewyC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pointsbet.com.au\/sports\/aussie-rules\/AFL\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sc-1wtgx8i-5 gmewyC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"i-amphtml-intrinsic-sizer\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyBoZWlnaHQ9IjI4IiB3aWR0aD0iOTAiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIi8+\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>WHAT&#8217;S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n<p>Watch every match of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? <a href=\"https:\/\/kayosports.com.au?pg=default&amp;extcamp=fsaeditoriallinkafl-edt-fsp-lnk-awr-grc-afl-kyo&amp;channel=fsa&amp;campaign=fsacontra&amp;voucher=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>And Scott was largely pleased to see Bruhn back on a footy field again after a tough 12 months.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were confident going into the 2025 season that he was going to be an important midfield player for us. And we still think that\u2019s the case, but he was always going to be a flexible player as well,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve taken the opportunity through our training to look at him in positions behind the ball.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut it\u2019s just fantastic for him to get out there and be able to concentrate on footy after what is one of the most egregious injustices I can think of in the game. To put that behind him, I think is positive for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tanner Bruhn is set to play his first game since 2024 (Photo by Michael Willson\/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>Presser further about the role he\u2019s played in supporting Bruhn, Scott noted he\u2019d \u201csaid more than I want to\u201d as \u201cit\u2019s largely a private matter\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t want to draw any more attention to it than he would like,\u201d the Geelong coach added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI support him in all the ways that you would imagine, but I don\u2019t want to walk you through it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But Scott played down the significance of Bruhn playing in his first official AFL game since 2024.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m excited about it all, so I try not to individualise too much,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s his first game but he\u2019s really been training and he played a practice game against Carlton, he\u2019s kind of ready to go.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think we\u2019ll all look back and think this was a small step, it\u2019s important that we don\u2019t overplay it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>VOSS DENIES HE\u2019S \u2018COACHING FOR HIS LIFE\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Carlton coach Michael Voss has denied claims he is \u201ccoaching for his life\u201d this year, maintaining his club\u2019s focus is on anything but his future at Princes Park.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, Chris Scott has explained why his club hasn\u2019t reviewed last year\u2019s grand final loss, labelling the concept \u201cirrelevant\u201d. <\/p>\n<p>After two eye-catching wins over last year\u2019s grand finalists Brisbane and Geelong in a match simulation and pre-season fixture respectively, the Blues couldn\u2019t have asked for a much better February ahead of their season opener against Sydney this Thursday night. <\/p>\n<p>It is hopefully the beginning of a stable 2026 for Voss\u2019 side, who came under immense scrutiny last season after losing their opening four games, before later enduring seven losses in an eight-match stretch.<\/p>\n<p>Joining Fox Footy\u2019s AFL 360 on Monday night, the 50-year-old was directly asked whether he felt he was \u201ccoaching for his life\u201d in his fifth year at the helm in navy blue.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel like that\u2019s quite dramatic to explain it like that. From my perspective, it\u2019s got to be about anything but me this year,\u201d Voss said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cObviously there\u2019s been a significant change at our football club; that decision was made at the back end of our year (in 2025). New coaches, new players, and a new way of doing things.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith that, and those decisions, to think you\u2019re making that call in six, 12 or 18 weeks\u2019 time\u2026 I think they\u2019re making these decisions for the long haul.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe version we roll out in Round 1, you hope is going to be a hell of a lot better come Round 20 \u2026 the last thing this will be about in 2026 is my contract. It\u2019ll be about our club first, and that\u2019s the way we\u2019ll approach it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;I&#8217;ve completely lost trust in him&#8217; | 02:03<\/p>\n<p>While Voss lost dual Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow to Sydney in last year\u2019s trade period, he and his recruiting staff were able to gain a flurry of first-round picks in return \u2014 as well as five recruits from rival clubs; namely Will Hayward and Ollie Florent from the Swans.<\/p>\n<p>The three-time Brisbane premiership player believes their arrival, alongside the likes of Ben Ainsworth (formerly Gold Coast), Campbell Chesser (West Coast) and Liam Reidy (Fremantle), has helped foster a positive change in the club\u2019s environment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI separate culture and environment as two different things. We\u2019ve definitely shifted the environment, but culture happens over a long period of time,\u201d Voss continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCulturally, we want to be a successful club over a long period of time. Geelong has been able to do that over a couple of decades now, so that\u2019s what you\u2019re trying to immerse yourself in as a football club.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat we have done is definitely shift the environment; and the energy\u2019s shifted. The players that we\u2019ve brought in have created some really significant change for us, so you\u2019re going to see a different brand of football. I think you\u2019ll see a different team, and we\u2019re really excited with what the year holds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Carlton\u2019s Opening Round clash with Sydney kicks off at 7:30pm AEDT at the SCG, broadcast live on Fox Footy. <\/p>\n<p>Scott refuses to dwell on, or review GF | 02:26<\/p>\n<p>CATS COACH\u2019S GF REVEAL<\/p>\n<p>Chris Scott has revealed Geelong never formally reviewed last year\u2019s grand final loss. <\/p>\n<p>Appearing in AFL 360\u2019s return on Monday night, Scott explained to Gerard Whateley and Garry Lyon why he couldn\u2019t afford to \u201cdwell on the past\u201d. <\/p>\n<p>The two-time premiership mentor was asked if he ever made peace with the 47-point loss. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot really, but I don\u2019t think about it any differently to 2020, when we lost (to Richmond). I tend to move on pretty quickly,\u201d he told Fox Footy. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t really think about it that differently to 2022, either, when we won \u2014 it\u2019s like, we\u2019ve got to get on with it. If you preach living in the moment, you can\u2019t dwell on the past. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI came to the conclusion pretty quickly that these things can affect you \u2026 but if you allow them to affect you, or if you open the door to that, then there is a big risk that it has a big impact moving into the future. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve said this a number of times; I don\u2019t think you can ever make up for it, I\u2019ve never believed in that either. We could win the next three premierships and I wouldn\u2019t feel better about (losing last year) \u2026 it is what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Probed by Whateley on how the club went about reviewing the game, Scott said the concept is \u201cpretty much irrelevant\u201d that far on from the match. <\/p>\n<p>It comes a year after Dean Cox infamously spent seven and a half hours reviewing Sydney\u2019s horror 2024 grand final loss with his Swans side. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe almost never formally review the last game,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI put it in the bucket of \u2026 it\u2019s kind of like reviewing a game from six months ago; it\u2019s pretty much irrelevant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Scott said he\u2019s watched \u201cbits and pieces\u201d of the game, but not in the presence of the playing group. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut each to their own, I\u2019m not saying it\u2019s the wrong thing to do, it\u2019s just, for us, we\u2019re able to move into what we needed to work on this year,\u201d he continued. <\/p>\n<p>\u201c(It\u2019s) along the lines of not opening the door to those scars, or not letting it scar you. If you\u2019re going to make a mistake, you\u2019re better off making a mistake (while) moving on, as opposed to overreacting to one game. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve got no interest in really reliving that last day, especially, but the last month (of the season) was pretty close to seamless.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A candid Scott closed with: \u201cI hate to sound flippant about it \u2014 it was a disappointing period of my life, but I\u2019ve got heaps of them, and I just keep pushing on.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Geelong coach Chris Scott is ready to welcome back Tanner Bruhn following a \u201cegregious injustice\u201d last year. Bruhn&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":516985,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[63,689,3239,1129,258315,31730,1119,2485,118605,5330,43,258316,218846,3257,673,44,677,49673,8016,701,258314,33195,670,41,39,42,40,1133],"class_list":["post-516984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-carlton-blues","tag-charlie-curnow","tag-denied-claims","tag-doing-things","tag-football-club","tag-gold-coast","tag-grand-finalists","tag-head-coach","tag-headlines","tag-immense-scrutiny","tag-match-simulation","tag-michael-voss","tag-new-south-wales","tag-news","tag-oceania","tag-ollie-florent","tag-premiership-player","tag-queensland","tag-recruiting-staff","tag-season-opener","tag-sydney","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories","tag-trade-period"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/516984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=516984"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/516984\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/516985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=516984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=516984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=516984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}