North Melbourne needs to decide Brad Scott’s future to provide clarity, writes Matthew Lloyd

BRISBANE and North Melbourne are clubs in contrast. The Kangaroos look uncertain about their path and it starts with coach Brad Scott’s future, writes Matthew Lloyd.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott oversees training at Arden Street.

THE Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne square off in a game in which both clubs will be looking to avoid the wooden spoon.

While the list managers of both clubs won’t be disappointed with a fighting loss, both Chris Fagan and Brad Scott are competitors and a winning culture is more important to them than the No.1 draft pick in the November national draft.

Scott and Fagan are at completely different stages of their coaching careers. Fagan has a wealth of AFL experience, but at 56 he is a rookie AFL senior coach. Scott is just 41 yet he has coached North Melbourne for eight years with relative success in that time, taking his club to two preliminary finals.

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Brisbane looks like a club in control for the first time in a long time.

Despite its ladder position it know exactly the steps it needs to take on the journey to sustainable success.

The Lions’ game style looks clear, the players appear united and invested in the program and there will be no player exodus this year like previous off-seasons.

Brad Scott has been coach of North Melbourne for eight years.

Chris Fagan is in his first year as coach of Brisbane Lions.

Brisbane also has a clear recruiting strategy in that it only recruits players from rival clubs who fit into the age demographic that will see those players in their prime come Brisbane’s next tilt at a premiership.

There is no quick fix at Brisbane. The Lions understand that it will be a long process and they will not take shortcuts. They have gained so much respect this year with their performances and a strong finish to the season.

North Melbourne on the other hand looks like a club that is a little confused and uncertain about its direction.

This year was always going to be the start of its rebuild and its 17th position on the ladder doesn’t come as a surprise.

The confusion comes from the lack of commitment Scott and North Melbourne look to be showing towards each other.

North Melbourne has to stay the course upon which it started last year when it ended the careers of four champions of the club. They were tough decisions, but the right decisions.

Scott needs to be remain hungry and invested at North Melbourne despite the fact that it may take another three seasons before he coaches in another final.

Does he have the passion, energy and patience to be that person? Scott has answered that emphatically “yes” but the noise around his future just won’t go away.

Does North Melbourne chairman Ben Buckley and his board still believe Scott is their man for the long haul or are the Kangaroos hoping that another opportunity presents itself to Scott so they can reach an amicable parting that would reinvigorate both parties.

If North Melbourne is unsure whether Scott is the right person to coach the Kangas beyond 2018 when his contract ends, I don’t believe it is going to be good for anyone next year at North Melbourne having Scott coach out the last season of his contract.

North Melbourne either needs to recontract Scott for another two years, to give him three years and the security to rebuild the club’s list properly, or make a clean break now.

Dustin Martin evades the tackle of Patrick Dangerfield.

Some at North Melbourne may feel uncomfortable with the thought that Scott would then have been at the helm of North Melbourne for 11 years without a premiership or even a Grand Final appearance, but if that is the case, they need to make tough decisions now rather than letting the speculation linger into next year.

North’s list strategy also raises questions. Why offer Dustin Martin the reported $10 million over seven years when you are at the start of a rebuild? Paying $1.5m a year to one player who, as good as he is, will turn 27 in the first season of a seven-year deal doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Chasing Josh Kelly, on the other hand, makes total sense as he is only 22 and like Chris Judd did at Carlton, could captain the club from day one.

It is highly unlikely though that Kelly will be at North Melbourne in 2018 and while Martin will bring greater profile and membership over the coming years, he could only take the Roos from 18th, should they lose today, to 13th on the ladder in my opinion.

Martin won’t suddenly catapult North Melbourne back into the final eight.

Securing elite talent to North Melbourne via the national draft is of far greater importance than a franchise player like Martin, considering where North Melbourne is at.

Josh Kelly ins action for Greater Western Sydney. Picture: AAP

Ben Brown looks to be North Melbourne’s only A-grade player. Gaining as many selections inside the top 25 of the draft, just like Hawthorn did back in 2004 to land Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Jordan Lewis, is the pathway back to success.

One player won’t make that much of a difference at this stage of the rebuild and the depth of the squad is only going to be weakened to accommodate Martin’s huge salary.

What also doesn’t make sense were reports during the week that Scott is more likely to stay if the Kangaroos were to land Josh Kelly or Dustin Martin, but less likely if they don’t. What does that mean?

One player of the quality of Martin or Kelly will certainly help, but how does that change the thought process of whether Scott is the right man to coach North Melbourne.

Wooden spoon or not, big decisions need to be made at Arden St.