He’s Scott top skills on wing

Damen Francis

August 10 2013

Shepparton News

Shepparton’s Marcus Scott is not your average winger.

A career-central midfielder, Scott, 18, has graduated to the club’s Regional Premier League team this season under new coach Matt Gray and been a regular starter on the left.

While most wide players use their speed to get at opposition defenders, Scott is not that sort of player, instead relying on his reading of the play and range of creative passing.

This week he was recognised for a string of excellent recent performances, with the round six nomination for the Goulburn North East Football Association Rising Star award.

‘‘I’ve played centre for the past five or six years, but moving into ones I’ve been pushed out wide to sort of keep my spot in the team and I’m kind of enjoying that at the moment,’’ Scott said.

‘‘Because I’m not the fastest bloke going around, I’m more about getting the ball to my feet and if I can see a cross, put a cross in, or just link up with the centre mids or strikers really, that’s my main role.

‘‘I’m enjoying it just as much, so wherever (senior coach) Matt (Gray) wants to put me I’m happy to play, as long as it’s on the field.’’

Scott has been linking particularly well with fellow rising star nominee and Reds left back, Hussein Sumaili.

‘‘Playing with ‘Hussy’, we tend to know each other pretty well,’’ Scott said.

‘‘He knows to call me back if I’m needed and if I’m chasing back and he reckons he’s got it covered, he’ll tell me, so I feel like we work well on that left side.’’

Scott has been at the club for 10 years and while he has been involved in the first team in the past, never to this extent.

Due to school commitments, he requested to remain in the division two men’s side last season, but having taken a gap year between Year 12 and starting a law degree at Monash University, Scott has been available to Gray.

It has worked out well for both, with the first-year coach full of praise for the young midfielder.

‘‘Marcus has got a fantastic attitude, he comes to training extra early on Fridays, because he misses Wednesday trainings with work,’’ Gray said.

‘‘His ability on the ball and to spot a pass is excellent and he has forced his way into the team in front of senior players.’’

Scott said he was always working to improve and did not feel he had made much impact at senior level yet, but was enjoying the opportunity.

‘‘It’s really good playing under Matt, he’s good fun and a good laugh as well as being a really good coach,’’ he said.

‘‘I need even more confidence to back myself and get the ball at my feet a bit more and (improve) my strength on the ball as well.

‘‘I would love to score a few more goals, I think everyone would . . . but if I can set them up that would be just as good.’’

GNEFA RISING STAR NOMINEES

ROUND 1: Jake Keating (Shepparton South)

ROUND 2: Hussein Sumaili (Shepparton)

ROUND 3: Pat Condidorio (Cobram)

ROUND 4: Alex Goodwin (Tatura)

ROUND 5: Abdul Al Hashoush (Numurkah)

ROUND 6: Marcus Scott (Shepparton)

ROUND 7: August 24