IN Chris Scott's world, a missed opportunity is a lost opportunity.

Which is why he's still having difficulty in dealing with Geelong's 21-point half-time lead in last year's preliminary final against eventual premier Richmond.

Post that match, Scott said the loss would "take a long time to get over".

In an interview held late last month for In The Game with Damian Barrett, Scott said:

"I'm starting to lean towards (you) never (get over it). I'm not a big believer that you can make amends for lost opportunity. I mean, we won a premiership in 2011, but if we're playing in prelim finals through that period and just haven't been quite good enough.

"And, if we were good enough this year it wouldn't make up for last year. I mean, the reality is we were three-and-a-half goals up against the best team in the comp at half-time in a prelim final and couldn't get the job done.

"So I don't think it drives, well it certainly doesn't drive me anymore, and I suspect that doesn't really drive our players anymore as well."

In his nine seasons as Cats coach, Scott has only once missed the finals (2015), yet even that year produced 11 wins.

FULL FIXTURE Every round, every game

Scott also revealed in the In The Game interview that:

• GARY Ablett, who turns 36 in May, would be set for "14 to 18" games in 2020 and, in hindsight, he probably played too many (24 of a possible 25) last season;
• ESAVA Ratugolea had extraordinary potential as a forward and a ruckman, and that he could be a "special ruckman";
• HE would in 2020 continue to provide debut matches for as many players as possible, following the 20 first games given to Cats players in the past three seasons.