BRAD Scott has revealed his greatest challenge as an AFL coach came in the minutes before the start of his 211th and final game.
Scott told AFL.com.au on Monday that more than half of the North Melbourne team was in tears as they absorbed news of his impending exit as coach in the same meeting in which they gathered for final preparations against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
"In the 10 years I've been coach, that was certainly one of the toughest moments, probably the biggest coaching challenge I've had in those 10 years," Scott said.
"Seeing a majority of players in tears two hours before the game, and then to get them into the right head space to go and play a game of footy …"
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When asked which players were most affected, Scott said he didn't want to individualise, but then added:
"I felt sorry for (gun Bulldogs forward) Aaron Naughton."
Why?
"Because he was playing on Robbie Tarrant. I thought, 'I'm going to have to make sure here that 'Taz' doesn't go out and get reported'."
Naughton had no impact on the game, with just eight disposals and one goal in the Bulldogs' loss to North, which left Scott with a 106-105 score line in his 10 seasons as coach.
In a wide-ranging interview, Scott also:
- REFUTED suggestions he had another senior coaching job already lined up;
- SAID he would assist Rhyce Shaw in his caretaker role as North Melbourne coach "as much or little as 'Shawry' would like";
- PLANNED to soon meet with AFL icons Leigh Matthews - who coached him at Brisbane, and Mick Malthouse, with whom he worked as an assistant at Collingwood before securing the Roos job – to get their thoughts on his next moves within football;
- DENIED claims he was being selfish in exiting North with 12 games remaining in the 2019 season;
- EXPLAINED why he didn't tell his own manager Craig Kelly of his decision to stand down after 211 matches, saying it would have created a conflict of interest.
Scott and North Melbourne president Ben Buckley on Sunday. Picture: AFL Photos
"It's funny, I don’t feel like I've finished and I'm asking, 'how can I help?'" Scott said.
"I will help Shawry whenever he wants, and that is a fine line because I've already said to him, 'you have to take the training wheels off and do this yourself'.
"But he knows I'm available to catch up off site, if he wants. I just want everyone to go about their business at North without feeling awkward, but I am definitely available to anyone."
Scott reiterated his decision to leave was mutually accepted and amicably negotiated with North Melbourne.
He refuted he left North at this stage of the season in order to position himself to be a leading candidate at other clubs, including Carlton, St Kilda and Essendon, which could be seeking coaching changes.
"I haven't considered, I honestly haven't considered what happens next," he said.
"Obviously there is now time to think about how that might look, but it is unsavoury and unfair for anyone to talk about other jobs.
"Obviously there is speculation, I get that, that is what happens, but it is very unfair to the incumbents.
"And that's why I cut 'Ned' (manager Craig Kelly) out of this, for the speculation that goes around in this game … 'you've got somewhere to go to', well no I don't.
"Ned would’ve then gone and done his job, and I didn’t want him to go and do his job.
"I do not have anywhere to go to, and he can yell and scream at me if he wants, but hand on heart, I haven’t spoken to anyone.
"Now, if your manager is speaking to someone, it is effectively me speaking to them, whether I like it or not.
"I am totally, 100 per cent genuine with what I've done. Hand on heart, I set out to do what is right."
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Of his future, Scott said he would spend a lot of time analysing what is best for him.
"I've been in the game for 25 straight years," he said.
"I'm 43, people say there is a lot of life to live. And there is. But also there is a sense of, 'I don’t know anything else' (than football).
"Leigh (Matthews) has talked a lot about his time after Collingwood, and he had a clear picture of what he wanted to do. And sometimes you can only do that if you have a clear head.
"One of the problems of being in the game for so long is not seeing the forest for the trees. It can be hard at times, and you can be so micro, that taking a step back and seeing things in a different light gives you the perspective you need."
