Walter Scott (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Walter "Wacka" or "Wat" Scott was a former Australian rules football
er in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL) in the early 20th century. Scott was a high marking defender who had a large influence during a very successful part of the Norwood Football Club
's history.
Playing his early football in the Adelaide
Hills, in 1920 Scott was lured to play in Adelaide as a result of his employment. The three partners of the electrical firm in Adelaide where he worked all played football for Norwood.
His high marking and sound defensive skills immediately drew praise and in his first season he won his new club's best and fairest
award.
In his second season he tied with Dan Moriarty of South Adelaide
for the 1921 Magarey Medal
– the award for the SANFL's "fairest and most brilliant" player. under the rules that applied at that time, the Leagues umpires were called to deliberate and in the event chose to award the medal to Moriarty. Scott went on to win two Magarey Medals in his own right in 1924 and 1930. In 1998 the SANFL retrospectively awarded medals to all players who had tied for the medal but lost on a "count back" or by such adjudication. Thus some 76 years after the event (and posthumously) he acquired his third medal.
In 1922 Norwood won the premiership, the first for Scott. He played in three more premierships with Norwood, including as captain-coach of the 1929 team. He won Norwood's best and fairest award a record six times.
The pinnacle of Scott's playing career occurred in 1930 when he not only won the Magarey Medal, but also captained the South Australia
n side in that year's interstate carnival. Scott played 38 consecutive matches for his State – an Australian record that stands to this day. He also coached the State side four times.
Sadly he injured his knee severely in the last round match of the 1930 season against Port Adelaide
, and he never reached such heights again as a player. He retired as a player in 1932.
Scott coached at four clubs altogether – his beloved Norwood, West Adelaide
, Glenelg and Sturt
over a total of 12 seasons.
Scott was named at centre half-back in the Norwood team of the century http://www.go-redlegs.com/totc.htm.
Scott was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 1996 and into the SANFL Hall of Fame in its first year in 2002.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL) in the early 20th century. Scott was a high marking defender who had a large influence during a very successful part of the Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
's history.
Playing his early football in the Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
Hills, in 1920 Scott was lured to play in Adelaide as a result of his employment. The three partners of the electrical firm in Adelaide where he worked all played football for Norwood.
His high marking and sound defensive skills immediately drew praise and in his first season he won his new club's best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
award.
In his second season he tied with Dan Moriarty of South Adelaide
South Adelaide Football Club
South Adelaide Football Club competes in the South Australian National Football League . Known as the Panthers, their home ground is Hickinbotham Oval , located in Noarlunga Downs in the southern suburbs of Adelaide....
for the 1921 Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
– the award for the SANFL's "fairest and most brilliant" player. under the rules that applied at that time, the Leagues umpires were called to deliberate and in the event chose to award the medal to Moriarty. Scott went on to win two Magarey Medals in his own right in 1924 and 1930. In 1998 the SANFL retrospectively awarded medals to all players who had tied for the medal but lost on a "count back" or by such adjudication. Thus some 76 years after the event (and posthumously) he acquired his third medal.
In 1922 Norwood won the premiership, the first for Scott. He played in three more premierships with Norwood, including as captain-coach of the 1929 team. He won Norwood's best and fairest award a record six times.
The pinnacle of Scott's playing career occurred in 1930 when he not only won the Magarey Medal, but also captained the South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n side in that year's interstate carnival. Scott played 38 consecutive matches for his State – an Australian record that stands to this day. He also coached the State side four times.
Sadly he injured his knee severely in the last round match of the 1930 season against Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
, and he never reached such heights again as a player. He retired as a player in 1932.
Scott coached at four clubs altogether – his beloved Norwood, West Adelaide
West Adelaide Football Club
West Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League . Commonly known as The Bloods and Westies, the clubs home base is City Mazda Stadium located in Richmond, an inner-western suburb of Adelaide.-Early Years :West Adelaide was formed in...
, Glenelg and Sturt
Sturt Football Club
Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...
over a total of 12 seasons.
Scott was named at centre half-back in the Norwood team of the century http://www.go-redlegs.com/totc.htm.
Scott was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 1996 and into the SANFL Hall of Fame in its first year in 2002.