Scott’s pledge to stick around

NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott says his commitment to the Kangaroos has “never wavered” and he will fulfil the final year of his contract next year if that’s what the club wants.

Scott yesterday expressed surprise at public reaction to comments he made in a television interview on Tuesday, during which the coach said he would sit down with the club at the end of the season and “keep analysing” whether he was the right person to continue in 2018.

Two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King labelled the comments “really weird” given Scott is contracted next year, adding it was almost as if Scott was saying he would look at any other offers that were put to him from rival clubs.

But Scott — who is in his eighth year in charge at Arden St — stood by his comments and said he would always put the club’s interests before his own.

“So I’m getting criticised for being honest?” he said.

“Let me be unequivocal. My commitment to North Melbourne has never wavered. Ever. And it’s not wavering now. When you have coaches and players who put their personal interests ahead of the club’s then you’re going to be in trouble.

“What I’m clearly saying is that I’ll always put the football club’s interests first and if I think that I’m the best person to coach the football club and they want me to coach the football club, that’s what will be happening.”

The Kangaroos host Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium tomorrow night, still in search of their first win.

Scott said morale at the club remained high despite the start to the season.

“We’ve got a bit of work to do on that,” the coach said.

“We’ve had a lot of turnover of our list so we’ve got a lot of different players in there who are still learning what we think are some pretty fundamental and simple things for the way we want to play.”