Anthony Scott becomes fifth player from Kew junior team to reach the AFL

Western Bulldogs’ Anthony Scott is the fifth AFL player to emerge from this under-12 Melbourne footy team. Can you spot the other stars?

Anthony Scott (bottom row, third from right) of the Western Bulldogs played in a Kew Comets Under 12 team with Jack Billings, Jack Sinclair, High Beasley and Luke McDonald.

Former Brisbane defender Hugh Beasley has team photos from the days he played junior football with Western Bulldog Anthony Scott at Kew Comets.

There they are in the Under 12 gold side in 2007.

And there they are bunched as Under 13s the following year.

Having two players from one junior team go on to play league football is unusual.

But there was more to it for the Kew Comets. Remarkably, they had five – Beasley and Scott’s teammates included future Saints Jack Billings and Jack Sinclair and Kangaroo Luke McDonald.

Anthony Scott celebrates a goal in the preliminary final.

Little wonder Scott won four premierships as he went through the age groups at the Yarra Junior Football League club.

Later, other future AFL players Jake Kelly, Will Hayes and Jay Kennedy-Harris played in the same group.

Beasley, now with Box Hill Hawks after figuring in Richmond’s 2019 VFL flag, said: “It’s pretty incredible. We were pretty lucky with the side we had, that’s for sure.’’

Billings was drafted at No 3 in 2013.

McDonald, the son of former Kangaroo Donald, was a father-son selection the same year.

Sinclair was No 1 in the 2014 rookie draft. Beasley went as a rookie in 2015.

Kew Comets woop it up after a premiership victory.

But Scott, now 26, had to wait until this year for his AFL call-up.

Now he’s in contention to play in next weekend’s AFL grand final for the Dogs, having been the medical sub in the preliminary final victory over Port Adelaide.

Overlooked after playing for the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup, Scott won the VAFA Rising Star with Old Trinity in 2014, and later linked with the Richmond and Footscray VFL teams.

A best and fairest season with the Scrays in 2019 prompted the Bulldogs to add him to senior list ahead of this season.

“Scotty’ has done it the tough way,’’ Beasley, who played six games for Brisbane Lions, said. “It’s unbelievable how he’s done it. He was always told he was – well, I’m not too sure if he was told it – but, you know, ‘Not tall enough, not strong enough’.

“He kept on working on it, working on everything any recruiter told him as to why he wasn’t getting a game in the VFL. Then he worked on everything the AFL coaches told him as to why he wasn’t getting drafted.’’

Anthony Scott playing for Richmond in the VFL.

Picture: Josie Hayden

As a junior Scott was a “silky left-footer, clever, knew how to get himself out of a tight situation’’, he said.

Peter Hannan coached Scott in the Kew Comets Under 14s and 15s, by which time the club focus was on participation rather than premierships.

The former VAFA senior coach recalled Scott as being “always brave and determined’’.

“He was footy-smart, a lovely kick, a good mark for his height,’’ Hannan said.

“From a Kew footy club perspective he was all the typical things: obedient, a really hard trier, came from a good family, with the four brothers. In those days he was on the little side, but he grew a bit later, whereas Luke McDonald grew early.’’

Hannan said Scott had done a “mighty job’’ to play for a strong Bulldogs team this year.

“He knows his role, he does as he’s asked and he’s got that attribute of being a beautiful left-foot kick,’’ he said.

Scott is no guarantee to play in the grand final, but his old coach has fingers crossed for him.

“(Dogs coach) Luke Beveridge is nearly the smartest footy person in Melbourne. He’s a genius and I wouldn’t be telling him what to do,’’ Hannan said with a laugh.

“But I hope he picks him.’’