North Melbourne coach Brad Scott is proud of his AFL club’s stance on gambling revenue and is confident the Kangaroos can make it financially sustainable.
One of the conditions of their partnership with the World Vision charity is that they accept no income from gambling, making them a rarity among AFL clubs.
Earlier this week, former club board member Peter de Rauch slammed the move and derided chairman James Brayshaw as “a teddy bear”.
But Scott strongly backs the new agreement, saying he regards problem gambling as a bigger issue among AFL players than illicit drugs or alcohol.
“It’s a great example that a football club can make because people do look up to football club and sporting organisations as a whole,” Scott said.
“So I’m extremely proud.
“We are certainly foregoing revenue from pokies income but we think we will more than make up for that from organisations who want to get on board and align themselves with what we’re doing and sponsor us.”
Scott is confident that given what happened last year, AFL players will not gamble on their own sport or pass on information that can be used for punting.
Collingwood pair Nick Maxwell and Heath Shaw, Essendon assistant coach Dean Wallis and Gold Coast’s Nathan Bock all received heavy penalties from the league for breaching the game’s strict anti-gambling code.
But the North coach said the issue went well beyond players gambling on the AFL itself.
“I have concerns about all AFL players,” Scott said.
“You speak to the experts … our players are right in that mix.
“They’re young, they’re impressionable, they have disposable income and they have time.
“So they fit right into that category that we should be concerned about.”
Meanwhile, Scott has praised rookie Majak Daw, who was suspended indefinitely last month.
The Sudanese rookie-listed player is training at VFL affiliates Werribee after he was caught laying to Scott about a night out while Daw was recovering from a knee injury.
“We’re following a program to get him back into the club as soon as possible, but I can’t speak highly enough of his attitude so far,” Scott said.
Scott also called on AFL fans in Ballarat to support Saturday’s NAB Cup match against the Western Bulldogs in the city.
The Kangaroos want to develop the game in the region to the point where Ballarat hosts AFL premiership matches.
Scott also had a dig at Essendon for their Wangaratta debacle last weekend, where the game against St Kilda was called off because the planes carrying the Bombers team could not land.
“It really is critical for a lot of people to turn up … and for the people of Ballarat to show just how much they want AFL footy to be a permanent fixture in their city,” Scott said.
“One thing I can guarantee people is we’re driving up there and I’m pretty sure the Bulldogs guys are doing the same.”
