VAFA 2021: Old Scotch signs four ex-AFL names

A former Magpie, Lion, and Hawk duo make up four ex-AFL names putting pen to paper at VAFA Premier club Old Scotch.

Rupert Wills is one of four ex-AFL names to link with Old Scotch. Picture: AAP Image/Scott Barbour

Four ex-AFL names have aligned with VAFA Premier outfit Old Scotch and coach Mark Gnatt says they’ve already had a positive impact on the young group.

Former Collingwood midfielder Rupert Wills and ex-Brisbane mid/forward Toby Wooller return to Scotch where they previously played as schoolboys, with Wooller also linking with Carlton’s VFL side.

Former Brisbane Lion Toby Wooller. Picture: Supplied

Wills played 23 matches for the Magpies from 2016-2020, while Wooller spent three seasons on the Lions’ list from 2018-2020, playing an integral role in the club’s undefeated 2019 NEAFL campaign.

Former Hawthorn pair Mathew Walker and Harry Jones have also aligned with the club and are expected to play the bulk of their footy with North Melbourne’s VFL outfit.

Walker arrived at Hawthorn with pick 63 in the 2018 draft and held his own at VFL level with Box Hill in 2019, where he kicked 23 majors and averaged 14 disposals from 15 appearances.

Jones spent three seasons on Hawthorn’s list after his selection in the 2018 rookie draft, making his debut in Round 5 of 2020 against the Giants before an MCL injury ended his campaign.

Former Hawk Mathew Walker. Picture: AFL Photos

Existing connections within the Old Scotch hierarchy helped land the ex-Hawks duo.

“They’ve both signed at North Melbourne VFL, and obviously have come from Hawthorn so there’s probably a couple of connections there with our president (Peter Simpson) being involved at Hawthorn but probably more so (football director Donald McDonald) with his North Melbourne connection,” Gnatt said.

“We met those boys and they’re both from the country and they’re great blokes – they’ve trained with us every session since Christmas and they’ve fitted in really well.

“Two young guys so they fit into that age that we’re looking for.”

Jones in action against GWS. Picture: AFL Photos

Gnatt said he was thrilled to have the full-time services of Wills.

“He’s returned to play with a lot of his mates that he went to school with and is very close to,” he said.

“He was probably a bit stiff to be delisted at the end of last year from Collingwood to be honest, so we’re delighted to have him on board.”

Despite three of the four committing to VFL sides, Gnatt believes they’ll continue to regularly set the standard at training for the young group.

“The reality is, Harry and Mathew (at North) and Toby at Carlton, they’re going to play a good chunk of their footy at VFL level as they’ve all come straight out of the AFL, so you’d expect they’d play at that level a fair bit,” Gnatt said.

“The way that North’s doing things will mean that those two (Walker and Jones) will train with us a lot like they already have.

‘’With a young group it’s going to naturally allow our boys to grow and develop and one or two of our boys might jump into that level down the track too.

“It just raises the standard naturally and we’ve already seen that with their involvement at training.”

Old Scotch finished runner-up in the competition’s second tier in 2019, and Gnatt said the club had met its priorities to retain the majority of the senior list alongside the 2019 under-19 premiership team.

“It’s been a really good off-season for us and the young guys can really learn off that (the new additions) and we’re really keen to grow our own,” he said.

“We’ve really focussed on our culture and our leaders have been outstanding.”