Australian Football

Joe Scaddan was on a half back flank for Collingwood and one of the best players afield in the 1910 grand final which saw the Magpies account for Carlton. It proved to be his only season in the VFL, as in 1911 he headed west to join Subiaco, a club which was about to undergo a dramatic improvement in fortune, although it would not be immediate. Scaddan was just one of several new players to arrive at Subiaco in 1911, but it would be fair to observe that they had difficulty in gelling as the side ended up with the wooden spoon. The 1912 season saw Scaddan installed as captain-coach and the team duly enjoyed a meteoric emergence from the doldrums, culminating in a 5.8 to 4.3 challenge final defeat of East Fremantle to secure a first ever flag.

Dogged and persistent as a footballer, Scadden had also proved to be an inspiring leader, and had in effect lit the touch paper to the first great era in the history of the Subiaco Football Club. That era would continue with further premierships in 1913 and 1915, while Scaddan would go on to play 57 games for the club, finally retiring in 1917. Meanwhile his stint with the Magpies had comprised 21 appearances and no goals.

Author - John Devaney