Brad Scott clashes with David King as Kangaroos win farewell game
Outgoing North Melbourne coach Brad Scott took a public shot at David King before the Kangaroos staved off a collapse to defeat the Western Bulldogs.
In the final game before Scott’s 10-year stint as coach comes to an end, the Kangaroos built up a 32-point lead late in the third quarter.
The Dogs kicked six goals in a row to hit the front midway through the fourth before North steadied.
Two goals to youngster Nick Larkey sealed the 18.7 (115) to 13.12 (90) victory at Docklands.
However, Scott was almost embarrassed after he couldn’t resist a crack at a club great.
The coach ran near King, commentating on the game for Fox Sports, and almost collected the two-time Kangaroos premiership player with a bump.
Instead, he appeared to throw some expletives towards King.
If I was Brad Scott I might have waited until after the game to have a crack at David King. Dogs a big shot to nab this #AFLDogsNorth
— Brett Thomas (@Sports_Brett) May 25, 2019
Brad Scott made a bee-line towards David King at that three quarter time huddle. Ran quite close to him and may have made some comments. No love lost after King’s recent column in the Herald Sun.
— Jay Clark (@ClarkyHeraldSun) May 25, 2019
“I haven’t spoken to David King in years,” Scott said after the game.
“I get frustrated sometimes when the cameras are too close to the huddle.
“There was a time when I put my shoulder straight through David King in the Gabba in the late ‘90s and he didn’t respond then either.
“So I’m not about to start doing that again. I’m a coach, not a player.”
Scott strongly suggested nobody should take King’s opinion on North Melbourne seriously.
“I invited David King to come down and present a jumper to a first-year player and he chose not to come,” he said.
“We seem to think there are some players who play the game and because they have they have some sort of unique insight. I’ve never seen anyone from this club emerge with any unique insight.
“They’ve played, but there isn’t a unique insight, so I focus more on the people who do know.”
The win ensures Scott leaves his post with a positive record of 106 wins and 105 losses.
“It felt like a loss in the family ... this one’s for him,” North veteran Ben Cunnington told King on Fox Sports of Scott’s departure.
“The boys stuck together and got the job done with a bit of character.”
Todd Goldstein turned back the clock with a brilliant 57-hit out, 28-possession performance, with Shaun Higgins (34 disposals) and Ben Cunnington (29) also important.
Ben Brown and Mason Wood each booted three goals in the upset result.
Caleb Daniel led the way for the Dogs with 29 touches, Marcus Bontempelli was also prominent with 25 disposals while Sam Lloyd booted three goals.
Scores were level at the first break after a free-flowing opening term, but the Roos lifted in a five-goals-to-one second quarter to lead by 22 points at half-time.
with AAP