By DAVID NAGEL
THE challenge of translating his magnificent footballing talents into coaching has been the driving force behind Nick Scanlon’s decision to leave Narre Warren to coach Clayton in the Southern Football League next season.
In a transfer of epic proportions for Narre Warren and the Casey Cardinia Football League, the six-time premiership player, 2012 All-Australian, and interleague star, will remain in black and white as he looks to lead Clayton from the depths of the Division-1 ladder.
The versatile Scanlon, who has kicked more than 250 goals for the Magpies, but won All-Australian selection off half back, signed with Clayton last week, the second of three big happenings in his life after moving house last week and on Sunday being married.
Scanlon said the decision to leave Narre Warren was the toughest decision to make.
“It’s definitely the most difficult decision I’ve had to face, and it’s been tough, very hard, there’s been a lot going through my mind,” the 26-year-old told the Gazette.
“I love Narre Warren, most of my friends are from the club, but coaching is something I really want to do. I’ve been a playing assistant coach to Sav (Chris Toner) for the last three years and it just feels like the right time.”
Scanlon has been muted for quite some time as Toner’s replacement at Fox Road, but the Magpies unexpected straight sets elimination from this year’s Casey Cardinia league finals series changed the landscape somewhat.
Toner resigned after losing to Cranbourne in the preliminary final, but within a week had a change of heart, retaining the senior role for 2015 and leaving Scanlon to reassess his options. The new coach of Clayton said there were no guarantees that he would have been the number one candidate even if Toner had left the club.
“There are no hard feelings there at all,” he said.
“It’s going to be an enormous challenge as it is, with Clayton coming off a poor year, there’s going to be pressure there to perform, but probably not as much pressure on me than if I had stayed at Narre Warren. I’d love to go back and coach one day, so it’s probably a good thing to gain a bit of experience first.”
Scanlon said his main focus now was to make a difference at his new club and to lead it to success.
“I just got a good feel from the moment I walked through the door,” he said.
“It’s a good club with a similar off-field feel to Narre Warren, all we need now is to bring a winning vibe, a winning culture to the club. That’s what Narre Warren’s success has been based on and I can’t see why we can’t bring that culture to Clayton.”
Scanlon’s brothers, Dean and Stewart, are likely to join him at Meade Reserve while his former Narre Warren team mate – and part of his bridal party – Warragul’s Chris Lee, will no doubt be a target.
