View Full Version : 25. Scott Lucas
Can't say much more about him for his whole career, let alone last couple of years
danielcanberra
16 Jul 2007, 18:57
This article is worth keeping here.
Lucas a forgotten superstar
29 June 2007 Herald-Sun
Scott Gullan
WHAT is it about Scott Lucas?
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5545427,00.jpg
Forgotten superstar: Scott Lucas.
Why is he still underrated after 237 games and 404 goals?
Why, after 13 years at Windy Hill, is he still not revered by all Essendon fans?
Is it because he has lived in Matthew Lloyd's shadow? Is it because he never handballs? Is it because he'll have a shot for goal from anywhere inside 70m?
There is no doubt there is something about Scott Lucas, something that just niggles away, something that is very hard to put your finger on. Last week we went in search of some answers.
The first obstacle was actually getting to speak to Lucas. After sitting on the request for a month, finally, a tentative date is fixed. The Monday or Tuesday after the Port Adelaide game before the players go away on the mid-season break is the window of opportunity.
However, when the Bombers get smashed by Port, the alarms bells start ringing. He hasn't wanted to talk when they are flying, so what are the chances after a shocker?
A hopeful text message is sent on the Monday morning to the Essendon PR man.
He simply sends back Lucas's mobile number. Optimistically the call is made but, surprise, surprise, no answer. Hopes fade again.
An hour later he calls back. "How's tomorrow at 2pm sound?" the enthusiastic voice at the other end says. "Do you mind doing it at my house?"
We're on. And at his home in Moonee Ponds, not exactly the response or location anticipated from a known media dodger.
The day dawns, and after having some trouble opening the gate to the beautiful old Victorian home, the first thing you see is the stroller on the porch that is a reminder that Lucas is very much a family man with three young daughters.
A knock is quickly answered by Lucas, who immediately seems taller than he looks on TV. A welcoming handshake and then we quietly head down the hallway - it's afternoon nap time - to the open living room where his wife Georgina is busy packing.
The family is off to Lucas's parents' farm down in Camperdown for a few days. He loves breathing some country air while the kids love watching grandpa milk the cows.
Already it is obvious the common perception of Lucas is wrong. He's engaging, down to earth, refreshingly honest and easy to talk to as he kicks back on the sofa.
Soon the conversation turns to the Lloyd-Lucas thing. The pair have been inseparable since they arrived at Windy Hill in 1995 and were once quoted as saying they wanted to be to the Bombers what Jason Dunstall and Dermott Brereton were to the Hawks through their golden era.
"I think it rolls off the tongue and the fact we're both left-footers, centre half-forward and full-forward, probably has seen us grouped together a bit," he says.
Do you feel you've started to move out of Lloyd's shadow? "I'm probably not mentioned as much, but I don't take too much notice. I couldn't really tell you."
Lloyd started his career in a blaze of glory. He led the Bombers' goalkicking in just his third season, finished third in the best-and-fairest, played for Victoria and followed that up with All-Australian selection the following year.
Lucas was more than holding his own during this time and also gained state selection in 1998, but it was in 1999 when the gap started to widen.
A broken leg ruined Lucas's season - he was in the reserves when the Bombers lost that infamous preliminary final to Carlton - while Lloyd kicked a career-high 87 goals and was climbing to superstar status.
Since then Lucas has been playing catch-up.
"It doesn't worry me at all," he says. "It is not something you can afford to dwell on. There are too much other things happening."
So why the low profile? "It's probably just the way it unfolded and I was really comfortable with that, and that is just how it is," Lucas says.
"I think when you have had two outstanding players as Hird and Lloyd . . . they are both super players and both involved in the media, there are only spots for comment from so many.
"We have always had very good players and it comes down to the personality. I thought if 'Fletch' (Dustin Fletcher), who has been an outstanding player, wanted to pursue more, there were always avenues.
"But some blokes are just comfortable to step back a bit and let them take it."
That takes us to recognition. Has Lucas suffered because of his low profile? He dismisses it as a non-issue, although others suggest it is very much a fact.
"You don't focus on that," he says. "I think all a player sets out to do is play well for his teammates and the coaches, get recognised for your contribution to the team.
"That is all you can ever expect. There is no doubt there are players at other clubs who don't get the headlines they probably deserve, but that's just the way it is."
Damien Hardwick and Ricky Nixon are both qualified to talk on this subject on behalf of Lucas. Hardwick played in the 2000 Essendon premiership team alongside Lucas and is now coaching against him as an assistant with Hawthorn. Nixon has been Lucas's long-time manager and friend.
"I still reckon he is underrated," Hardwick says. "He took longer than Lloydy to develop, but he is capable of kicking 60 goals a season.
"He still probably doesn't get the plaudits he deserves. He is very important to Essendon and I think they know within the club how important he is, but I still reckon outside the club people don't realise how important he is to that team.
"I think sides have started to pay him more credibility, like we put Campbell Brown on him this year. I think sides have realised that, hang on, if you stop Scotty Lucas getting the ball across centre half-forward, there is a fair chance you can actually stop it getting to Lloyd. I reckon he has improved every year as well. Most players, I reckon when they get to 28 then it starts going down. He's turning 30 and hasn't looked like slowing down."
Nixon says there has been a swing of momentum back to Lucas during the past 18 months. With Lloyd injured last year, Lucas led the Bombers' goalkicking with 67, won the best-and-fairest and flew the flag in what was a disastrous season.
"The last 18 months a lot of people, and even friends of mine who are Essendon supporters, have had a pretty big change of heart and now they just call him a superstar," Nixon says.
"It has definitely swung back to him. I don't hear anyone, Essendon or other, say anything different than 'Gee, he's a good player' now.
"I think he has always been that, but he has just had other people who probably took the limelight a bit, that's all."
They both can't speak highly enough of Lucas as a person, agreeing the public perception of him is way off the mark.
"He's different," Hardwick says. "He doesn't come across as a footy player. He is pretty articulate in the way he speaks and is very modest.
"He looks untidy and all that sort of stuff, but he is an outstanding guy, a down-to-earth country kid."
Nixon, who has managed hundreds of players, nominates Lucas as one of the best with whom he has dealt.
"I have a cup of tea with him every four or six weeks and he is just the most loyal, best bloke you would want to meet," he says.
"I'll ask if his wife or parents want to come to the footy and he'll say, 'Oh, would you do that for me?' Blokes who haven't played a game ask you to do that.
"He is up there with the best players I have managed over 15 years. I put my hand on my heart and say that about him."
Those sentiments ring true as Lucas leans forward on his sofa and talks about the enjoyment he gets from helping adolescents and teenagers as the face of the Bombers' Responsible Gambling program.
There's some irony is this appointment given his wife is the daughter of leading bookmaker Norm Short, but he stresses he's not a punter himself.
"We don't only talk about gambling, we speak about social issues confronting adolescents and teenagers today. Things were pretty simple for me. I grew up in the country and you played your sport on the weekend and a couple of nights during the week. Now there are so many other issues swirling around in adolescents' heads. I suppose we're just trying to provide some guidance."
On the Ben Cousins issue, Lucas says the episode will help educate young players. "His problems have probably helped get it out there and it is a wake-up call for guys. We are members of the wider community, it's not like we live in bubbles, and if anything we have more disposable income and profile, which can be a dangerous combination."
He admits the game is a lot harder to play now.
"The pressure that goes with playing is a lot more intense than when I started. Expectations rise and scrutiny rises, but still at the very basis of it it is about playing with your mates to win," he says.
Suddenly time is running out. The hour has flown and he has to get back to the club for a massage.
What about Sheeds? Should he continue as coach? "This is a no-comment question," he says, hinting that the club's board may have made it known that it's not a subject the players should be talking about.
What about the hands-in-the-back rule? "I'm not going there either." Having been penalised three times against Port two days earlier, it's fair to say the Bomber centre half-forward isn't a fan, but he doesn't want to cop a fine.
Lucas says he would love to stay involved in footy after his playing days are over. He is a qualified carpenter, but is studying commerce-sports administration, so don't be surprised if he pops up in the league's or the Bombers' front office down the track.
At the moment he's enjoying his footy and is excited about what's ahead for this Essendon team. He is contracted for another year, but doesn't see the end approaching just yet.
"You see guys like Fletcher and Hird and they are just flying along and they are a fair bit older," Lucas says. "That gives you that little bit of encouragement and incentive that if you keep looking after yourself, then you can play for a while.
"But then they are freakish."
There is a stirring from one of the bedrooms and daughter Hannah appears. She's excited about going down to the farm to see the cows. The tape recorder gets switched off and Lucas is off the couch and heading down the hallway to open the front door. "Thanks for that," he says with a smile.
The cliche of never judging a book by its cover rings loudly as the gate gives trouble again.
Forget the niggle or the pause when you next hear his name. Scott Lucas is a champion, on and off the field.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21986339%255E19742,00.html
Ryder Is God
17 Jul 2007, 00:23
I think all Essendon supporters appreciate what Lucas does. Even though he may not be as recognized as Hird and Lloyd, we still see him as a champion player at Essendon, even if the public doesn't.
Bombs Away
17 Jul 2007, 13:41
Champion player and always plays well in big games, finals and interstate.:thumbsu:
Bomber32
17 Jul 2007, 13:45
I can never complain about the efforts of Scotty Lucas. Always keeps trying and has a heart as big as Phar Lap.
Great champion.:thumbsu:
windyhill
17 Jul 2007, 20:01
How he missed AA last season has me bamboozled. Must get in this season.
Pawtucket Patriot
24 Jul 2007, 17:34
Why did Sheedy bench him on the weekend (injury?)? In addition he was played for a period at CHB on Cloke (I guess Cloke had beaten everyone else), which was a bit weird seeing as we were a fair way behind at that stage and needed his presence up forward.
jnash196
26 Jul 2007, 22:17
How he missed AA last season has me bamboozled. Must get in this season.
I was thinking, have there been 6 better forwards than him this year. Jonson, Brown, Pav, Riewoldt have been but who else has...
I was thinking, have there been 6 better forwards than him this year. Jonson, Brown, Pav, Riewoldt have been but who else has...
Scotty has been better than Riewodlt
Daytripper
27 Jul 2007, 12:09
Scotty has been better than Riewodlt
He's been better than Brown as well.
Brown has been well below par this season except for the last few weeks.
windyhill
28 Aug 2007, 21:26
Not playing at 100% ?
Pawtucket Patriot
1 Sep 2007, 19:33
Absolute GUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):)
windyhill
1 Sep 2007, 19:46
I`ve watched shit loads of football, that was one of the best if not THE best, individual quarters I have ever seen.
windyhill
13 Sep 2007, 21:09
Not playing at 100% ?
Ankle surgery.
I suspected he wasn`t firing on all cylinders. Makes the w.coast effort even more amazing.
windyhill
16 Sep 2007, 22:03
How he missed AA last season has me bamboozled. Must get in this season.
Bench at the very least, come ****ing on !
brown, riewoldt, pavlich and franklin would all be in ahead of him. i'm guessing mooney and scotty will be the unlucky talls that miss out
With coach knights here will he be played as a constant forward or we he make the same mistake sheedy made and put him as a backman? If i recall correctly, a while back Knights said something about it but im unsure.
Do we need him as a backman or will that be too domaging to our forward line?
Blueinblood
20 Jan 2008, 12:42
He would have to play forward you would think. Especially after that last quater in rd 22.
timmytimmywatson
20 Jan 2008, 12:47
He would have to play forward you would think. Especially after that last quater in rd 22.
Yeah keep him up forward, as i always say "Your only as good as your last quarter":)
if we want to play finals he has to play forward. but if knights wants to play neagle and cj in the forward line he has to play in defence.
i'm guessing he'll start forward.......no big surprise, and then if we are out of the finals race he will be moved around the ground so that others can get an opportunity.
Ryder Is God
20 Jan 2008, 17:15
Likely to skip NAB cup due to new interchange rule.
IhateMondays
16 Mar 2008, 18:07
Hast to play forward. We can't waste his boot
anyone know how bad he burnt his foot? (cooking incident at home)
anyone know how bad he burnt his foot? (cooking incident at home)
Apparently not too bad at all and mainly went to the hospital for precautionary reasons
MarkJohnson#1
19 Mar 2008, 08:50
No chance Lucas will play down back unless Fletcher, Ryder and Mal are all injured at once. Would rather stick Johns down there and have Lucas dominating up forward as per usual. :thumbsu:
Slattery_20
19 Mar 2008, 09:00
Apparently not too bad at all and mainly went to the hospital for precautionary reasons
I hope it was his spare (aka right) foot...
he won't spend anytime in defence this year unless we are tanking..........i mean developing for next year
Stants_24_Legend
27 Mar 2008, 17:20
Channel 7 Now!!
DapperDon
27 Mar 2008, 17:29
what did they say?
Pawtucket Patriot
27 Mar 2008, 17:32
10wks instead of 12 wks.
DapperDon
27 Mar 2008, 17:35
10wks instead of 12 wks.
Is that it? **** i hate channel 7.
bomberstomake8
21 May 2008, 08:50
Lucas could be set for a return to footy next week against adelaide.
knights said lucas is tryingto convince him he is right to play next week but knights wasnt very sure whether he should come straight back in via afl or not..
source : sen
Sam the RAMA fan
25 May 2008, 16:25
If Essendon don't offer Lucas another contract at the end of the year then they are Nucking Futs!
Scotty said he is trying to work something out with them and that he pretty much wants to finish his career at Windy Hill. :thumbsu:
He will finish his career as Essendon. Our best player closely followed by McVeigh. Why would we let our best player leave our club. Give him a 5 year deal...
bipolarbeaR
30 May 2008, 00:24
I love Lucas! I hope they don't trade one of our Tall Forwards (Neagle, Daniher, Gumbleton, Lloyd or Lucas) to the Western Bulldogs. They need a tall forward and I see this happening. Makes me wanna cry :'(
windyhill
2 Jun 2008, 16:31
250th this week for The Great Man.
Almost forgot about that. Hopefully we can step up for the big game. They made a huge deal about Harvey's 250th in the paper, so Lucas should get the same.
MarkJohnson#1
14 Jun 2008, 03:14
I think tonight Scotty proved just how valuable to the team he really is and how much we have missed him since round 1. He gives us so much structure up forward and is such a dangerous player who provides a lethal target and can really hurt the opposition on the scoreboard. Thumbs up to Scotty and lets hope he gets back to his previous years fitness/form asap (and the good part is he looks to be fastracking into fitness/form beautifully :thumbsu:).
Kudos Scott Lucas you champion!:)
MarkJohnson#1
13 Jul 2008, 21:19
Anyone noticing the correlation between wins and the return of Scotty? ;)
S.C[BANKS]
14 Jul 2008, 07:02
Anyone noticing the correlation between wins and the return of Scotty? ;)
I have! :p
peterss
27 Sep 2008, 18:49
With Lucas getting on a bit now do you think the younger lads in Gumby etc. will take his position next season or do you think he is still best 22 material in the coaches eyes?
Also has he signed a contract yet?
bomba4eva
27 Sep 2008, 19:33
Anyone noticing the correlation between wins and the return of Scotty? ;)
Add a CHF to any team lacking one and their structure wil instantly improve.
Lucas will be in our best 22 next year.
Windas_Magic
27 Sep 2008, 20:17
With Lucas getting on a bit now do you think the younger lads in Gumby etc. will take his position next season or do you think he is still best 22 material in the coaches eyes?
Also has he signed a contract yet?
He is definitely still in our best 22 and he signed a one year deal a while ago.
Bezerka
30 Sep 2008, 10:16
He is definitely still in our best 22 and he signed a one year deal a while ago.
Possibly his last contract signing?
I love the bloke, But we seriously need to start developing our youth. Gumby and Neagle aren't going to get any better sitting in the VFL. No disrespect to him, But i think he's had his time and his glory, and let him move on end of '09.
Windas_Magic
30 Sep 2008, 10:22
Possibly his last contract signing?
I love the bloke, But we seriously need to start developing our youth. Gumby and Neagle aren't going to get any better sitting in the VFL. No disrespect to him, But i think he's had his time and his glory, and let him move on end of '09.
Wouldn't of thought so. Not unless he suffers from injury for the whole year like he did this year.
The club thought it was best to sign him on the one year deal so something like the JJ instance, doesn't occur. They can continue signing him on one year deals for the next three years if they wanted to.
Are you serious? He still deserves a spot in our 22, did you see Hawthorn dump Crawford back to the seconds since he was getting old? He still plays great footy. Gumby still needs to prove himself and earn his spot in our side, so he should start in VFL and work his way into the senior side, he can play out of the 50 and work up the wings and Neagle is a stay at home FF so he would be taking Lloydys old spot. At worst he would still have a spot at CHB
BigBomber09
3 Oct 2008, 14:18
his a champ nothing more to be said.
Maybe a tad bit of a forgotten champ. Living in the shadow of Lloydy his whole career.
None the less a star, and he knows when it will be his time to retire.