Australian Football

Former Hawthorn coach John Kennedy once famously said that he never criticised his champion ruckman Don Scott for making mistakes "because they were only caused by trying too hard". Certainly few players of the time could match the former Box Hill star for determination. Despite conceding several centimetres to most opponents he was highly accomplished at the art of using his weight effectively, and his immense fitness meant that he often finished games leaping high above his taller adversaries.

Scott's aggressively determined approach helped make him a highly effective onfield leader, and he captained the Hawks to the 1976 and 1978 premierships, having earlier been a member of the 1971 flag-winning team. He represented the VFL and Victoria on numerous occasions.

After retiring as a player, Don Scott had a brief, abjectly unsuccessful stint as coach of South Adelaide in 1985. He later embarked on a much more successful media career.

Author - John Devaney