By Kate Mitchell
Josh Scott, the knock-about country lad from Lakes Entrance has had a remarkable football journey during his time at Gippsland Power.
Twelve months ago, things were looking good for Josh. A successful TAC Cup season under his belt and attendance at the AFL Draft Combine where clubs showed some interest had many touting him as a strong draft prospect in the 2012 AFL draft.
So when draft day and then the rookie draft came and went without his name being called out, Josh was given a gut wrenching cup of reality. He didn’t quite measure up to the expectations of recruiters and the AFL clubs, talent wasn’t enough. Josh had some work to do both on and off the field if he wanted to be in the mix again.
For some, being told no and having a dream crushed is enough for them to give up. But giving up just isn’t in the Scott family vocabulary, Josh was still determined to play the highest level of football possible.
His pre-season was spent taking on board every bit of feedback he had been given from the recruiters, his coach Nick Stevens and Talent Manager Peter Francis. Facing harsh realities and making the required sacrifices was the first step in a long road ahead. Josh went about equipping himself physically and mentally to meet the challenge head on.
That commitment to his own development ensured that Josh was given the opportunity to return to Gippsland Power as a 19 year old and play another season in the TAC Cup. Through the guidance of his coaches Josh worked hard on improving his fitness, his strength and his game.
The tough preseason slog paid off as Josh dominated in the early rounds of the TAC Cup season, regularly kicking bags of goals, including a nine goal haul against Bendigo.
In an outstanding effort, Josh kicked 51 goals in just 13 games for Gippsland Power. Given that in one of those matches he actually sustained an injury early and barely played for the rest of the game it should really be 12 games.
He also went on to kick goals in his stints for Victoria Country in the National Carnival and the Casey Scorpions in the VFL. Josh won the TAC Cup leading goal kicker award by a country mile, compiling an impressive highlight package of contested marks and goals along the way.
If he wasn’t kicking goals himself, Josh was setting up them up for his team mates. Regularly double teamed and given a tough time by opponents who tried any tactic possible to stop him, Josh continued to deliver and was rarely beaten.
Josh’s toughness on the football field has been heavily influenced by his grandfather, Reg Ryan who played 72 VFL games in the 1940’s for Collingwood and North Melbourne. Reg was from a generation where young men didn’t just show courage on the football field; they showed it fighting for their country during the war.
If Reg felt Josh wasn’t having a crack and going in hard enough on the footy field, he would certainly let Josh know. Don’t worry about the fact that Josh was still a youngster! For Reg stepping on to the football field meant you played hard and if you got knocked down you got straight back up and kept going. It’s led to Josh having a steely determination to throw himself into the contest and just will himself to win the ball.
Missing Gippsland Power’s last regular season game and then the Elimination Final through injury was a huge blow for Josh. His competitive nature still visible as he supported his team mates from the sideline. While it didn’t finish the way he wanted it to, Josh’s 2013 season was by far his career best and showed that giving him that extra year to develop was the right decision.
Going into the TAC Cup Morrish Medal vote count, everyone knew that Josh had won the Leading Goal Kicker Award. On the night Josh was pleased to be there to catch up with his mates and honoured to receive his goal kicking award. But he kept thinking of the four hour drive home and the early start for work the next day, he was secretly hoping it would all be wrapped up swiftly so he could get on the road.
Work was quickly forgotten when Josh was named in the 2013 TAC Cup team of the year. Accepting his second award for the night Josh was genuinely surprised to be up on stage again. Once the team photo and media formalities were completed it was back to the table where his Power team mates were joking he might need a bigger car to take all his awards home.
Keeping with tradition, the previous year’s Morrish Medal winner presents the new winner with his medal. Last year’s winner just happened to be Josh’s former Power team mate, Nick Graham, who has gone on to play AFL for Carlton. Fate would have it that Nick was seated next to Josh for the night. When the vote count started and Josh hit the lead early, his mate Nick sitting next to him knew exactly how Josh felt.
In one of the most dramatic vote counts in Morrish Medal history, 6 different players were in contention with the final round left to count. Even though he was in the lead, Josh knew he missed that final round so thought he had no chance. But in a competition first, it was a four way tie for the medal, Josh had hung on to be one of four winners.
It was a surreal moment for Josh as his good mate Nick Graham put the medal over his head and shook his hand. He was quite humble in his speech, thanking his parents for their support and the huge sacrifices they have made driving countless kilometres to trainings and games. He also acknowledged Nick Stevens and Peter Francis for believing in him and giving another chance.
Josh has come a long way in the last twelve months, both on and off the field. He has had a red hot crack all year and will keep doing so to make it to the AFL. He will be attending the AFL Draft Combine again, but this year it will be different, he is ready.
Reg is no longer with us, but you would reckon he’d be a bit chuffed with his grandson - TAC Cup Team of the Year, Leading Goal Kicker, Morrish Medallist and one bloody tough footballer.
Last Modified on 18/03/2015 10:59