Brad Scott (Australian footballer)
{{short description|Australian rules footballer, born 1976}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Brad Scott
| image = Brad Scott 2017.jpg
| caption = Brad Scott in 2017
| fullname = Bradley David Walter Scott
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|5|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = Eastern Ranges (TAC Cup)
| draftpick = No. 60, 1994 national draft
| position =
| height = 181 cm
| weight = 87 kg
| years1 = 1997
| club1 = {{AFL Haw}}
| games_goals1 = 22 (6)
| years2 = 1998–2006
| club2 = {{AFL BL}}
| games_goals2 = 146 (39)
| games_goalstotal = 168 (45)
| statsend = 2006
| coachyears1 = 2010–2019
| coachclub1 = {{AFL NM}}
| coachgames_wins1 = 211 (106–105–0)
| coachyears2 = 2023–
| coachclub2 = {{AFL Ess}}
| coachgames_wins2 = 52 (25–26–1)
| coachgames_winstotal = 263 (131–131–1)
| coachstatsend = round 7, 2025
| careerhighlights =
- 2× AFL premiership player: 2001, 2002
- AFL Rising Star nominee: 1997
}}
Bradley David Walter Scott (born 3 May 1976) is a former Australian rules footballer who is currently the coach of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played for Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions, and was previously the coach of the North Melbourne Football Club from 2010 until 2019.
Scott currently ranks second behind Ken Hinkley for most AFL/VFL games coached without making a grand final, after surpassing Terry Wallace in 2024.{{Cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/coaches/coaches_idx.html|title = AFL Tables - Coaches}}
Playing career
=Hawthorn=
Scott was recruited to Hawthorn in the 1994 national draft at pick 60, without playing a game, he was delisted and then re-drafted by Hawthorn in the 1996 draft, where he won the reserves best-and-fairest. Making his senior debut in 1997, Brad played all 22 games and was seen as a very solid contributor, but was traded at the end of that season to the Brisbane Lions, enabling him to play in the same side as his brother Chris.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Brad%2BScott/13748|title=BRAD SCOTT|access-date=30 September 2022}}
Brad Scott played a total of 22 games and kicked 6 goals in the 1997 season, for Hawthorn Football Club.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Brad%2BScott/13748|title=BRAD SCOTT|access-date=30 September 2022}}
=Brisbane Lions=
Scott was a very solid contributor over a number of years with the Lions and was seen as a fearless figure in defence. While defiant, Scott battled numerous injuries including one incurred during his milestone 150th game late in 2005.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Brad%2BScott/13748|title=BRAD SCOTT|access-date=30 September 2022}}
Like his brother, Scott was renowned for being one of the hardest players in the league. They were both integral members of the Brisbane Lions' first two premierships in 2001 and 2002.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Brad%2BScott/13748|title=BRAD SCOTT|access-date=30 September 2022}}
Injuries saw him miss the 2003 premiership and sidelined for the latter part of 2004.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Brad%2BScott/13748|title=BRAD SCOTT|access-date=30 September 2022}}
Scott's lacklustre form in 2004 and 2005 fed speculation that his contract with the Lions would not be renewed, however he remained with the club and announced on 10 August 2006 that he would retire from his playing career at the end of the 2006 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-08-10/brad-scott-announces-retirement/1235590|title=Brad Scott announces retirement|date=10 August 2006|access-date=30 September 2022}} Scott played his farewell game in Round 22 against the Saints.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Brad%2BScott/13748|title=BRAD SCOTT|access-date=30 September 2022}}
Brad Scott played a total of 146 games and kicked a total of 39 goals for Brisbane Lions from 1998 until 2006. He was also a member of the Brisbane Lions premiership teams in 2001 and 2002{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Brad%2BScott/13748|title=BRAD SCOTT|access-date=30 September 2022}}
Coaching career
=Collingwood (assistant)=
Retirement from playing, saw Scott become an assistant coach as the development coach at Collingwood under senior coach Mick Malthouse, where he had success working closely with a number of young Magpies and other players.{{cite news |title=Scott reflects on ANZAC heroics |url=http://collingwoodfc.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/5586/Default.aspx?.newsId=42362 |publisher=Collingwood Football Club |date=25 April 2007 |access-date=3 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007155059/http://collingwoodfc.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/5586/Default.aspx?.newsId=42362 |archive-date=7 October 2007 }}
=North Melbourne (2010–2019)=
Scott was also a candidate for the vacant coaching position at Richmond, however he believed his skill set suited North far better and was appointed as senior coach of North Melbourne for the 2010 season, signing a three-year contract on 17 August 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-08-17/scott-wins-north-job/1394008|title=Scott wins North job|date=17 August 2009|access-date=30 September 2022}} Scott replaced caretaker senior coach Darren Crocker, who replaced Dani Laidley after Laidley resigned in the middle of the 2009 season.
Scott had a terrible start to his coaching career, with three of the first four matches resulting in losses, including a 104-point thrashing from 2009 runners-up St Kilda. Since then, North made steady progress and finished outside the top eight on percentage.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Brad%2BScott/13748|title=BRAD SCOTT|access-date=30 September 2022}}
Although North Melbourne missed the finals for the second year in succession, Scott was rewarded with a contract extension as Kangaroos coach, with president James Brayshaw stating that he was satisfied with the club's progress under Scott. He led the team to 8th position and a spot in the finals at the end of the 2012 home and away season, with the side winning ten of its last twelve matches (including six in a row between Rounds 16–21) since a 115-point loss to Hawthorn in Round 10. The club was then defeated in their elimination final match against West Coast by 96 points.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Brad%2BScott/13748|title=BRAD SCOTT|access-date=30 September 2022}}
Following North Melbourne's disappointing season in 2013 after losing 10 matches by 16 points or less, the 2014 season began with a positive outlook as Nick Dal Santo was added to North Melbourne's list as a restricted free agent at the end of the 2013 season. With North Melbourne's midfield looking stronger, the success of the 2014 season saw Scott lead North Melbourne into his second finals series as coach after finishing 6th at the end of the premiership season. Winning their elimination final match against Essendon by 12 points, then defeating Geelong in the semi-final to progress to Scotts' first preliminary final as coach against Sydney, but the 71-point loss ended North Melbourne's finals run.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Brad%2BScott/13748|title=BRAD SCOTT|access-date=30 September 2022}}
The beginning of the 2015 season once again saw Scott make some vital inclusions to North Melbourne's list, with the addition of tall-forward Jarrad Waite and medium forward/midfielder Shaun Higgins. Despite finishing 8th, Scott was under scrutiny after a highly controversial decision to rest 9 players in Round 23 against Richmond, which was deemed by many to be a form of 'tanking'. Scott's 'plan' however, proved to be successful after defeating Richmond in the elimination final the following week by 17 points and going on to defeat Sydney in the semi-final to become the first ever team to reach a preliminary final after finishing 8th in the premiership season. North Melbourne's run was ended by West Coast at Domain Stadium by 25 points.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Brad%2BScott/13748|title=BRAD SCOTT|access-date=30 September 2022}}
Scott resigned as senior coach of North Melbourne on 26 May 2019 in the middle of the 2019 season, after ten rounds.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-25/brad-scott-parts-ways-with-north-melbourne-afl/11149954|title=North Melbourne coach Brad Scott steps down as Kangaroos post AFL win over Western Bulldogs|date=25 May 2019|access-date=30 September 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/brad-scott-officially-steps-down-as-north-melbourne-coach-20190526-p51r8s.html|title=Brad Scott officially steps down as North Melbourne coach|date=26 May 2019|access-date=30 September 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/249316/brad-scott-steps-down|title=Brad Scott steps down|date=25 May 2019|access-date=30 September 2022}} At the time, he held the record for most games coached at any one club in AFL/VFL history without making a Grand Final. Scott was then replaced by assistant coach Rhyce Shaw as caretaker senior coach of North Melbourne for the rest of the 2019 season, who was eventually appointed as full-time senior coach.
=Essendon (2023–present)=
Scott was appointed as the senior coach of Essendon for 2023 in September 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/852507/great-scott-dons-poach-afl-s-footy-gm-as-new-coach | title=Great Scott: Dons poach AFL's footy GM as new coach }}{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/essendon-announce-brad-scott-as-new-senior-coach-20220929-p5bm2x.html|title=Essendon announce Brad Scott as new senior coach on long-term deal|date=29 September 2022|access-date=30 September 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-29/afl-essendon-bombers-brad-scott-named-coach/101488112|title=Brad Scott appointed Essendon AFL men's head coach|date=29 September 2022|access-date=30 September 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/essendon-to-officially-unveil-brad-scott-as-its-new-senior-coach/news-story/85b9ad25d639286031742d7966387d0a|title=Essendon unveils Brad Scott as its new senior coach|date=30 September 2022|access-date=30 September 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/1230549/brad-scott-appointed-mens-senior-coach|title=Brad Scott appointed men's senior coach|date=30 September 2022|access-date=30 September 2022}} Scott replaced Ben Rutten, who was sacked as senior coach of Essendon at the end of the 2022 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/essendon-bombers/afl-news-2022-brad-scott-new-coach-of-essendon-bombers-wins-race-to-replace-ben-rutten-coaching-search-panel/news-story/9365b8f4dd8f6173d2ff038892fb1dee|title=Bombers get their man on long-term deal as ex-Roos boss Brad Scott appointed new coach|date=29 September 2022|access-date=30 September 2022}}
In Scott's first season in charge in 2023, Essendon had an 8-5 win-loss record and were sitting 6th at their bye, however only won 3 games after their bye, while losing 7, and slumped to an 11th place finish. The season ended with an 128 point defeat to Greater Western Sydney followed by a 70 point defeat to {{AFL Col}}.{{cite web|title=Essendon 2023 season review: Horror losses blight improvement|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/afl/news/essendon-2023-season-review/mfom8jdpmzs14i32uta7ny56|publisher=sportingnews.com|date=29 August 2023}}
Scott's second season in charge followed a similar script to the first, starting with an 8-2 record with one draw after 11 rounds, however after that point only won 3 games and lost 9 to again slump to 11th, having sat 2nd after round 12. Essendon extended Scott's contract by an extra year on the eve of the 2025 season.{{cite web|title=Bombers make call to extend coach's contract, debuts confirmed|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1276985/essendon-bombers-poised-to-extend-coach-brad-scotts-contract-isaac-kako-jaxon-prior-to-face-hawks|publisher=AFL Media|date=11 March 2025}}
Statistics
=Playing statistics=
{{AFL player statistics legend|p=y}}
{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}
|-
| 1997 || {{AFL Haw}} || 28
| 22 || 6 || 7 || 233 || 101 || 334 || 75 || 36 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 10.6 || 4.6 || 15.2 || 3.4 || 1.6 || 0
|-
| 1998 || {{AFL BL}} || 5
| 19 || 5 || 6 || 201 || 106 || 307 || 52 || 32 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 10.6 || 5.6 || 16.2 || 2.7 || 1.7 || 1
|-
| 1999 || {{AFL BL}} || 5
| 8 || 0 || 2 || 49 || 16 || 65 || 14 || 9 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 6.1 || 2.0 || 8.1 || 1.8 || 1.1 || 0
|-
| 2000 || {{AFL BL}} || 5
| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || –
|-
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | 2001# || {{AFL BL}} || 5
| 22 || 14 || 4 || 197 || 108 || 305 || 84 || 44 || 0.6 || 0.2 || 9.0 || 4.9 || 13.9 || 3.8 || 2.0 || 3
|-
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | 2002# || {{AFL BL}} || 5
| 25 || 8 || 10 || 315 || 179 || 494 || 136 || 55 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 12.6 || 7.2 || 19.8 || 5.4 || 2.2 || 0
|-
| 2003 || {{AFL BL}} || 5
| 22 || 5 || 8 || 245 || 166 || 411 || 112 || 48 || 0.2 || 0.4 || 11.1 || 7.5 || 18.7 || 5.1 || 2.2 || 3
|-
| 2004 || {{AFL BL}} || 5
| 15 || 4 || 1 || 138 || 89 || 227 || 60 || 30 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 9.2 || 5.9 || 15.1 || 4.0 || 2.0 || 0
|-
| 2005 || {{AFL BL}} || 5
| 17 || 2 || 1 || 115 || 92 || 207 || 55 || 14 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 6.8 || 5.4 || 12.2 || 3.2 || 0.8 || 0
|-
| 2006 || {{AFL BL}} || 5
| 18 || 1 || 1 || 151 || 115 || 266 || 88 || 43 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 8.4 || 6.4 || 14.8 || 4.9 || 2.4 || 0
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 168 !! 45 !! 40 !! 1644 !! 972 !! 2616 !! 676 !! 311 !! 0.3 !! 0.2 !! 9.8 !! 5.8 !! 15.6 !! 4.0 !! 1.9 !! 7
|}
Head coaching record
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Team | rowspan="2"|Year | colspan="5"|Home and Away Season | colspan="4"|Finals | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Drew | Win % | Position | Won | Lost | Win % | Result |
| NTH||2010
||11||11||0||{{winperc|11|11|0}}||9th out of 16||—||—||—||— | ||||||||
| NTH||2011
||10||12||0||{{winperc|10|12}}||9th out of 17||—||—||—||— | ||||||||
| style="background:#fdd;"
||14||8||0||{{winperc|14|8}}||8th out of 18||0||1||{{winperc|1|1}}|| Lost to West Coast in Elimination Final | ||||||||
| NTH||2013
||10||12||0||{{winperc|10|12}}||10th out of 18||—||—||—||— | ||||||||
| style="background:#fdd;"
||14||8||0||{{winperc|14|8}}||6th out of 18||2||1||{{winperc|2|1}}|| Lost to Sydney in Preliminary Final | ||||||||
| style="background:#fdd;"
||13||9||0||{{winperc|13|9}}||8th out of 18||2||1||{{winperc|1|1}}|| Lost to West Coast in Preliminary Final | ||||||||
| style="background:#fdd;"
||12||10||0||{{winperc|12|10}}||8th out of 18||0||1||{{winperc|1|1}}|| Lost to Adelaide in Elimination Final | ||||||||
| NTH||2017
||6||16||0||{{winperc|6|16}}||15th out of 18||—||—||—||— | ||||||||
| NTH||2018
||12||10||0||{{winperc|12|10}}||9th out of 18||—||—||—||— | ||||||||
| NTH||2019
||3||7||0||{{winperc|3|7}}||(resigned after round 10)||—||—||—||— | ||||||||
| colspan="2"|NTH Total||105||103||0||{{winperc|105|103|0}}|| ||4||4||{{winperc|4|4}}|| | ||||||||
| ESS||2023
||11||12||0||{{winperc|11|12|0}}||11th out of 18||—||—||—||— | ||||||||
| ESS||2024
||11||11||1||{{winperc|11|11|1}}||11th out of 18||—||—||—||— | ||||||||
| colspan="2"|ESS Total||22||23||1||{{winperc|22|23|1}}||—||—||—||—|| | ||||||||
| colspan="2"|Total||127||126||1||{{winperc|127|126|1}}|| ||4||4||{{winperc|4|4}}|| |
Controversies
= May 2024 comments about Tarryn Thomas =
In May 2024, while senior coach of Essendon, Scott said in a televised press interview that former North Melbourne player Tarryn Thomas was a "good person" and "deserved a second chance" despite a litany of criminal charges, including in 2023 when Thomas was charged with threatening to distribute an intimate image; Thomas was later stood down by the club, and the case was dropped, and Thomas was ordered to pay $1,000 to charity.{{Cite web |last=Pearson |first=Erin |date=2023-07-18 |title=Tarryn Thomas to donate $1000 to charity after threatening to share nude videos of ex-girlfriend |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/north-melbourne-s-tarryn-thomas-ordered-to-pay-1000-to-charity-after-threatening-to-share-nude-videos-of-ex-girlfriend-20230718-p5dp5s.html |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=The Age |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2023-01-18 |title=North Melbourne's Tarryn Thomas charged by police |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-18/tarryn-thomas-charged-by-police/101869206 |access-date=2023-01-24 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=Exiled Roos star in hot water over deleted video |url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/north-melbourne-kangaroos-tarryn-thomas-driving-mercedes-dangerously-video/6a211474-c181-41db-b9f8-a2f026399a4f |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=wwos.nine.com.au |language=en}} The charge was Thomas's second over the 2022–23 AFL off-season after he was previously caught driving while his licence was suspended.{{Cite web |title=North Melbourne's hypocrisy is impossible to miss |url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/01/24/north-melbournes-hypocrisy-is-impossible-to-miss |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=www.sen.com.au |language=en}} Additionally, in a now-deleted Instagram video posted by Thomas, he appeared to have his feet up on a Mercedes dashboard while driving.{{Cite web |title=Exiled Roos star in hot water over deleted video |url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/north-melbourne-kangaroos-tarryn-thomas-driving-mercedes-dangerously-video/6a211474-c181-41db-b9f8-a2f026399a4f |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=wwos.nine.com.au |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-01 |title=‘Incredibly uncomfortable’: Great’s issue with ex-Roo’s return as AFL must ‘walk the walk’ on violence |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/incredibly-uncomfortable-greats-issue-with-exroos-return-as-afl-must-walk-the-walk-on-violence/news-story/18fadf207f7ecc0dbeed9ac5ac8dce1c |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}} Scott's comment in defence of Thomas was slammed by the public at large and by media personalities such as former AFL champion Jimmy Bartel, himself a staunch campaigner against domestic violence.{{cite news |last1=McLachlan |first1=Hamish |date=27 March 2016 |title=Jimmy Bartel speaks out about the domestic violence he experienced growing up |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/jimmy-bartel-speaks-out-about-the-domestic-violence-he-experienced-growing-up/news-story/608e5949576f43fb3a5f29ea9dc4d76e |access-date=1 July 2017 |work=Herald Sun |publisher=News Corp Australia}}{{cite news |last1=Epstein |first1=Jackie |date=4 October 2016 |title=Jimmy Bartel shaves his beard off after growing it for 200 days for the Face UP To DV campaign |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/jimmy-bartel-shaves-his-beard-off-after-growing-it-for-200-days-for-the-face-up-to-dv-campaign/news-story/77f1fe53a164329b7e700edfe73cff5b?nk=76a8a0e279d6b123d45d7a6a0f6c99e9-1498913627 |access-date=1 July 2017 |work=Herald Sun |publisher=News Corp Australia}} Scott's comments were seen as particularly tone-deaf considering the AFL had an upcoming round bringing attention to victims of domestic abuse.{{Cite news |date=2024-05-01 |title=AFL clubs support stance on gendered violence as Eagles boss Pyke highlights 'horrendous' numbers |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/afl-clubs-back-stance-on-violence-against-women/103790878 |access-date=2024-05-01 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
Personal life
Scott's identical twin brother Chris Scott played alongside him at the Brisbane Lions and is now the coach of Geelong.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/identical-twins-happy-to-go-their-separate-ways-20101018-16qv6.html|title=Identical twins happy to go their separate ways|first=Greg|last=Baum|date=19 October 2010|access-date=25 June 2016|via=The Age}} Brad is the younger twin by a few minutes.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/the-scott-brothers-i-know-jason-akermanis/story-e6frf9jf-1226049504732|title=The Scott brothers I know: Jason Akermanis|website=Heraldsun.com.au|access-date=24 June 2016}} The twins both attended St Kevin’s College, their fees aided by [https://www.legacy.com.au/ Legacy] following the circumstances of their father's death when they were eight years old.{{Cite web |title=Scott twins |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/chris-and-brad-scotts-rivalry-drove-them-to-succeed-now-they-face-off-in-a-historic-final/news-story/727df54d89379babe5554b70f8d0e30a}}
In September 2014, Scott's wife Penny gave birth to their first child, a son.{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/north-melbourne-coach-brad-scott-and-wife-penny-welcome-baby-boy-20140910-10et5y.html|title=North Melbourne coach Brad Scott and wife Penny welcome baby boy|publisher=The Age|first=Daniel|last=Cherny|date=10 September 2014|access-date=26 March 2020}}
Scott's favourite film is "Clueless" and his favourite song is the Dire Straits single "Money For Nothing". Football Record magazine issue #114 published 28 July 2016
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{AFL Tables|B/Brad_Scott}}
{{Essendon player squad}}
{{AFL coaches}}
{{2001 Brisbane Lions premiership players}}
{{2002 Brisbane Lions premiership players}}
{{Brisbane Lions Team of the Decade}}
{{North Melbourne Football Club coaches}}
{{Essendon Football Club coaches}}
{{1997 AFL Rising Star nominees}}
{{2002 Australian international rules team}}
{{1994 AFL national draft}}
{{1996 AFL national draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, Brad}}
Category:Australian rules footballers from Melbourne
Category:Brisbane Lions players
Category:Brisbane Lions premiership players
Category:Hawthorn Football Club players
Category:North Melbourne Football Club coaches
Category:Essendon Football Club coaches
Category:People educated at St Kevin's College, Melbourne
Category:Eastern Ranges players
Category:Australia international rules football team players
Category:VFL/AFL premiership players