As Geelong’s premiership chances took a devastating hit at the hand of a hungry, disciplined and decidedly united Richmond at the MCG last night, the intense beam of media spotlight shifted to coach Chris Scott.

At his post-match press conference the normally cocksure coach looked as shaky as his side had for the previous 120 minutes.

From nine finals since 2012 the Cats record now stands at 2-7. The club’s two September victories came after Hawthorn’s Isaac Smith missed a set shot after the final siren in last year’s qualifying final, and a come-from-behind victory over an inexperienced Port Adelaide in the 2013.

In two of it’s last three finals Geelong has failed to score a goal in the opening quarter.

The Cats’ finals failures have become the rule, not the exception.

After another calamitous effort the questions buzzing around are many and varied.

Straight answers from the coach to the following 10 questions might provide a better understanding of why the Cats are now officially a September bunny.

What made you believe that wheeling out the identical match-up plan and strategy that beat the Tigers five weeks ago would work again without so much as a wrinkle. The Tigers knew what was coming, planned for it and then set about picking the Cats to pieces. Why wasn’t a move, any move, made at some point? Harry Taylor was left to rot up forward – while unable to halt the influence of Alex Rance – while Lachie Henderson managed five kicks for the night playing down back. An opportunity to make a proactive coaching move when the game was still in the balance was presented but not taken. Proactive, not reactive, coaching wins games. For what seemed a perfect under-the-radar build-up that centred largely on the opposition, why create a headline by controversially dropping a player? Few thought the move was the right one, including the players, who were said to be bewildered by the decision. The uncertainty created becomes unsettling. Why suddenly wheel out a purely defensive mindset and load up with another mid-sized defender in Zach Guthrie when the team was already stacked with them? Jake Kolodjashnij is best suited to defence but has had to play on a wing in recent weeks because there was no place in the back six. How was a 74kg Guthrie likely to help when the leg speed to handle the Tigers’ small forwards was already there in the form of Jed Bews, Tom Stewart, Zach Tuohy and Andrew Mackie. On top of that, Cam Guthrie, Scott Selwood, Harry Taylor, Kolodjashnij James Parsons and Jordan Murdoch played defensive roles. The result was the side took until the final minutes of the second term to kick a goal and ended the night with five. Was Joel Selwood right? As great as he is the skipper looked a shadow of himself as he struggled his way through the night. The fact the skipper spent large parts of the night up forward suggests he was anything but 100 per cent. After gathering 34 disposals and kicking three goals in the win over GWS why did Sam Menegola play predominantly across half forward? After some strong showings at the backend of the year the mature-aged recruit was a complete non-factor. Why did it take until the first final for Dan Menzel to suddenly become superfluous to requirements? Menzel had been part of the forward mix all season – apart from two games against Sydney and Carlton where he was inexplicably overlooked at selection but fit to play. To suggest the wet weather played a part in is omission bordered on ludicrous. Name three second tier, or unheralded players, who have elevated themselves in finals in recent years to be a difference-maker? Hard to find one. The art of good coaching is to raise the levels of players and extract more when it counts most. Generally what underpins that is coach-player relationships, which are said to strained for many within the group. Given Joel Selwood had kicked six goals for the year how was he suddenly expected to become a small, goalkicking forward in a tight and tense final? He’s a great player but even that was a task few thought he could accomplish. Were selection decisions unanimously endorsed by the coaching group?