Victorian Amateur Football Association: Old Scotch short on bigname recruits but developing young talent
While it might be short of the big names thrown up in this year’s recruiting arms race, Old Scotch has a bit of VFL talent to call upon this season.
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With Old Scotch not signing the high profile recruits lured by other clubs, many feel the Cardinals will find things tough in VAFA Premier this year.
“To a degree, you’re aware of the outside noise,” first-year coach Mark Gnatt said. “(But) it’s about us controlling what we can control as a team. Team defence and little changes across the ground.
“The motto I’m running with this year is about building our own brand and developing a reputation.
“There’s a lot of talent there. Tom Downie is one of the best players in the competition, A Grade or B Grade.”
There’s a distinct VFL flavour about the Cardinals this year with Aidyn Johnson, ex-Port Adelaide, signing with Richmond VFL and nominating Old Scotch as his feeder club.
The 22-year-old played 11 games for Port Adelaide between 2016-19 after being drafted from the Bendigo Pioneers at No.45 in 2015. He made his debut in 2016 against Carlton and kicked a goal with his first kick.
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“He’s an old boy from the school (Scotch College) but we’re not sure how often we’ll see him,” Gnatt said. “Nick Jamieson and Charlie Cormack have signed at Footscray (VFL) and we’re hoping we’ll see them a little bit.”
While it hasn’t matched what’s become a recruiting arms race this off-season, Gnatt said Old Scotch was positioning itself for the years to come by developing its younger players and forging links with junior programs in the area.
“We’re after a sustainable future,” he said.
Gnatt said the club was forming partnerships with Yarra Junior Football League clubs like the Camberwell Sharks and with Camberwell High School.
“A lot of those boys are currently at the Oakleigh Chargers,” he said. “There’s a lot of great talent there that will, over time, feed into the 19s.”
Off the field, Gnatt has established an exceptional support team as he steps up from the under-19s to the senior job.
“It is different,” he said. “Yes, I have been around the place and I know a lot of the guys.
“Donald McDonald (football manager) has been just outstanding. Bryce McGain (ex-Waverley Blues) is under-19 coach. He comes from a high performance background, he just gets it. And we have (North Melbourne premiership great) Steven Icke to help with the recruitment.”
Gnatt said the Cardinals have three pre-season hitouts, one against power club Old Xaverians, before kicking off their return to the top flight with a home clash against Old Trinity at the Camberwell Sports Ground on Saturday, April 4.
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