World Footy News

Scott Clayton, widely regarded as one of the top talent scouts and list builders in the AFL has been recruited to the GC17 team aiming to secure the 17th AFL licence for the Gold Coast. The team also recently signed former West Coast premiership player and current Collingwood assistant coach Guy McKenna to a two year deal to coach the initial squad, most likely in the Victorian TAC Cup Under 18s in 2009 and VFL in 2010 (yes, the Gold Coast is in Queensland, not Victoria, but the players will have to get used to travelling anyway). It seems like a smart move by McKenna, as if he is deemed to be doing a good job it probably puts him in pole position to land a contract to be the Coast's inaugural senior coach, without particularly damaging his credentials if they look elsewhere. Colours and mascot are likely to be named in the next few week, and GC17 has already achieved its target of signing up 20,000 non-paying "members".

Of interest to international footy fans is that Clayton, currently at the Western Bulldogs and formerly with Brisbane, has recently been scouting talent in Fiji for the Doggies (see Cloak and dagger but international recruiment on the burst), so we know he's prepared to think internationally, which will hopefully increase the chances of some international players getting on the GC17 list. A press release from GC17 follows.

GC 17, the Gold Coast’s bid for the 17th licence in the Australian Football League, has appointed highly regarded Scott Clayton to build the inaugural playing list

Clayton, currently recruitment manager at the Western Bulldogs and playing list manager for the Brisbane Lions, has been appointed to a three year contract.

He will build the development side which will play in the TAC Cup next year and the VFL in 2010 before a team is fielded in the AFL from 2011.

Clayton’s appointment follows GC 17’s announcement last week of former West Coast Eagles Champion player and Collingwood assistant coach Guy McKenna as its first coach. GC 17 will lodge its submission for the 17th AFL licence in early October.

GC 17 Chairman John Witheriff said Clayton is regarded as one of the best – if not the best – recruiting and list development managers in the country.

“We wanted the best in the business and Scott has agreed to join our journey to become the most exciting sporting club in Australia. His work at the Brisbane Lions was instrumental in building a playing list that won three straight premierships and he has built a talented, young list at the Western Bulldogs,” he said.

“Building this football club is one of the great challenges in football. Scott’s experience, his skills and his knowledge of young football talent is perfectly suited to making this a success.”

Witheriff said GC 17 has a strong response to its advertisement for a recruitment manager with a range of very talented applicants.

“Following discussions with Scott about the role it became clear both parties were interested. When we confirmed the requirements of the role and invited expressions of interest we considered Scott the best matched to the requirements and moved quickly to sign him up,” he said.

“We are starting to build the core of a very strong football club - not just a team - but our key aim was to bring together good people who would grow with us and come with us on our journey.”

Clayton said he saw the Gold Coast position as the next great challenge in his career and wanted the opportunity to go for it.

“I have been involved in building a Brisbane team and have had professional satisfaction and enjoyment out of building the Western Bulldogs list into a list that will be strong for years to come,” he said.

"I made a strong case for the job because I think it is the next big challenge in football and I really wanted to be a part of it.

“To be involved in the birth of a club and to build a list from the bottom up is very exciting. As someone whose life is recruiting, it really is one of the greatest opportunities available in recent football history.”

Clayton will take up his position at the beginning of 2009.

GC 17 will deliver its formal submission to the AFL for the 17th licence in early October. The group must satisfy the AFL it has met a set of criteria including community and business engagement and the development of a football department. More than 20,000 committed supporters have registered with GC 17 (a key criteria) with two months still to go before the submission deadline.