Scout's Honour

[Clemo]

Good news from The Age..........
"19/11/99
Magpies hire AFL's first full-time scout
By JAKE NIALL
Collingwood has become the first AFL club to appoint a full-time forward scout to watch opposition clubs.
Collingwood football manager Neil Balme yesterday confirmed that the Magpies had broken new ground by hiring John Wardrop as a full-time scout to watch opposition clubs play and train.
Traditionally, the forward scout, or club spy, has been a part-time job that involves watching the opposition play a week in advance and watching it train in the week leading up to a game.
Balme said Wardrop would combine his duties with a role in recruiting - specifically, in watching potential recruits from other AFL clubs. He said clubs' recruiting staff focused almost completely on youngsters outside the AFL and did not have much time to watch players from rival clubs.
Balme said new coach Mick Malthouse felt a full-time forward scout was necessary.
``He just thinks it's very important to see the other team train. He thinks the more you know (about the opposition), the better off you are,'' Balme said.
``It's almost unlimited how much you can do in that area.''
Wardrop worked for Malthouse as one of West Coast's Melbourne-based forward scouts and was involved with Richmond in the 1980s.
He would not begin his new job until around Christmas, Balme said.
West Coast is set to follow Collingwood's lead and appoint a full-time forward scout soon.
Meanwhile, the Magpies are close to reaching agreement on a one-year contract with former captain and 1990 premiership player Gavin Brown.
Balme said Brown was expected to re-sign shortly, while veteran Gavin Crosisca had already agreed to terms on a one-year deal.
Paul Williams and Anthony Rocca had also agreed to terms on new contracts.
Talented youngster Chris Tarrant - the centre of a tug of war between rival management groups - had not re-signed, but Balme said he did not expect any problems"

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