CHRIS Scott cannot think of a harder week in his AFL career than the one where Geelong decided it was time to part ways with premiership heroes Mathew Stokes, James Kelly and Steve Johnson.
But with the Cats in a transition period that was the tough stance the club took, fresh in the knowledge that its golden premiership era is over after missing the finals for the first time since 2006.
"When you're in the moment, the situation still seems quite raw. But I'm on record as saying that dealing with the end of players' careers when you're so emotionally invested and attached to them is as hard as it gets in footy," Scott said.
"These are very tough decisions that need to be made but you've always got to be guided by what we as a group think is best for the footy club, at times that doesn't console you as much as it should."
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The trio will play farewell games in the hoops against Adelaide at Simonds Stadium on Saturday and the Cats will not stand in the way of any of them if they choose to play at another club next season.
A decision on fellow veteran Corey Enright's future has now been made, but Scott said those details would be released at the appropriate time.
However the Cats coach rejected claims that a decision on whether Enright, who turns 34 this month, played on next season had been left entirely in the reliable defender's hands.
"Someone who is very close to me in the football world said the idea that players decide when they finish is so off the mark it's not funny," Scott said.
"No players have earned the right to dictate the terms of their departure when they finish.
"For people to say the decision's completely Corey's is not right."
Johnson told teammates of his fate in a team meeting on Friday morning, while Stokes and Kelly revealed the news to the playing group earlier in the week.
They addressed the playing group and reminisced about how big a part the club had played in each of their lives.
With so many Cats greats departing at the same time, it has been an emotional week for the club.
Stokes, Kelly and Johnson left an indelible mark on the club in their journeys and Scott understands there will be a backlash from upset fans.
"These are really difficult decisions, they're complicated, and in a lot of cases they're really marginal, so we understand that there will be people that will be very disappointed with it, the players included," Scott said.
"We're resigned to the fact that while we're certain we're doing the right thing for the footy club, there will be a lot of people that disagree.
"It's our job to wear that and make sure that we act as unemotionally as we possibly can in what are very emotional decisions."
Geelong fans will pay their respects to the trio with images of Stokes, Kelly and Johnson to grace the banner on Saturday while their highlight reels will play at president Colin Carter's pre-match function.
The team also has organised an unofficial after-match function when they will celebrate the careers of three of the most significant players in Geelong's history.
