Geelong coach Chris Scott confirmed that Tanner Bruhn will return to the field this weekend after missing the entire 2025 season, a period marked by serious allegations that were later dropped. The 23-year-old midfielder is set to play his first AFL game since the 2024 preliminary final, taking the field against Gold Coast on Friday night.
Bruhn was initially stood down by the AFL after being charged with rape and intentional sexual touching. But, those charges were dismissed last November when a key witness admitted to fabricating evidence. Scott described the situation as “one of the most egregious injustices I can think of in the game,” and expressed his relief at Bruhn’s opportunity to refocus on football.
The talented Bruhn made an unofficial return to game action last week, playing in a new role across halfback in a practice match against Carlton. Scott indicated the team had explored different positional options for Bruhn during training, recognizing his versatility. “We were confident going into the 2025 season that he was going to be an important midfield player for us. And we still think that’s the case, but he was always going to be a flexible player as well,” Scott said.
Scott was careful to respect Bruhn’s privacy when discussing the support he provided during this challenging time, stating he had “said more than I want to” on the matter. He emphasized his commitment to supporting Bruhn while acknowledging the necessitate to protect his privacy. “I don’t want to draw any more attention to it than he would like,” the Geelong coach added. “I support him in all the ways that you would imagine, but I don’t want to walk you through it.”
Despite the significance of Bruhn’s return, Scott downplayed the need to overemphasize the moment. “I’m excited about it all, so I try not to individualise too much,” Scott said. “It’s his first game but he’s really been training and he played a practice game against Carlton, he’s kind of ready to go. I think we’ll all look back and think this was a small step, it’s important that we don’t overplay it.”
‘I’ve completely lost trust in him’ | 02:03
VOSS DENIES HE’S ‘COACHING FOR HIS LIFE’
In other AFL news, Carlton coach Michael Voss dismissed suggestions that his position is under pressure heading into the 2026 season. Voss maintained that the club’s focus is solely on improvement and a fresh start, not his job security. The Blues will open their season against Sydney this Thursday night.
Voss addressed the claims during an appearance on AFL 360, stating, “I feel like that’s quite dramatic to explain it like that. From my perspective, it’s got to be about anything but me this year.” He highlighted the significant changes within the club, including new coaching staff and player acquisitions, as evidence of a long-term vision.
Carlton bolstered their roster through trades and free agency, adding players like Will Hayward and Ollie Florent from Sydney, as well as Ben Ainsworth, Campbell Chesser, and Liam Reidy. Voss believes these additions have fostered a positive shift in the team’s environment. “We’ve definitely shifted the environment, but culture happens over a long period of time,” Voss continued. “What we have done is definitely shift the environment; and the energy’s shifted.”
Scott refuses to dwell on, or review GF | 02:26
CATS COACH’S GF REVEAL
Geelong coach Chris Scott also revealed that the team did not conduct a formal review of their 2025 grand final loss, believing it was more important to focus on the future. Scott explained that dwelling on the past could be detrimental to the team’s progress. “I don’t think you can ever build up for it,” he said. “We could win the next three premierships and I wouldn’t feel better about (losing last year)… it is what it is.”
Scott stated that revisiting the game at this point would be “pretty much irrelevant,” emphasizing the importance of moving forward and concentrating on the upcoming season. The Cats will kick off their 2026 campaign against Gold Coast on Friday night, looking to start the season strong.
