Greenvale captain Denis

Bicer went one-on-one with his club’s champion recruit Scott Lucas for Star, to find out how the goal machine is finding the Essendon District Football League after a stellar AFL career.



AFTER 270 games, 471 goals and a highly-decorated 14-year AFL career, former Essendon premiership player Scott Lucas is thriving at his new club of choice, Greenvale.

Having retired from playing at the highest level, the Moonee Ponds resident considered a host of competitor clubs before deciding to settle at Greenvale.

“I met with the president Bruce Kent, liked the feel of the club plus a lot of local boys have grown up and are still playing here, so all of that combined made it a good fit,” he said.

Lucas’ signing brings a new level of expectation to a club that has failed in its last two attempts at a premiership - an expectation the former Bomber believes can be met.

“There’s a lot of hard work involved but I think if we play close to our maximum, then we should win.”

Lucas retired in August last year as Essendon turned to youth as part of a new plan, but the 32-year-old was happy with his overall contribution at the club.

“I look over my career and I was very fortunate so I think you’ve always got to look on your career as a whole and as a whole I’m happy with how it went.

Lucas said he still closely follows his former team and that they are improving with their young list.

“I think the last month they have played far better footy and they’re just hitting their targets more and hence they’re not putting their defence under as much pressure.”

Lucas has noticed the high standard in the Essendon District Football League (EDFL) A Grade competition, which fields one of the best standards of football in local leagues in Victoria.

“It’s a really good comp and I’ve been impressed by a lot of players running around.”

All clubs across the board have recruited extremely well but Strathmore, Keilor or Maribyrnong Park are the teams that Lucas expects to meet in the finals.

“They have shown pretty good set ups, structurally, and they’ve got some pretty good players individually so, whilst we’ve beaten those teams, at different stages they’ve been in front and we’ve had to work really hard.”

Greenvale coach and ex-AFL player Stephen MacPherson had high praise for his star recruit.

“His willingness to play local footy and give something back to the development of local clubs is a reflection of him as a bloke,” he said.

Greenvale currently sits second on the ladder with wins against highly fancied Maribyrnong Park, Keilor and Strathmore.

Although Lucas’ statistics this season show solid results, averaging 20 possessions and kicking 17 goals from six games, he expects more from himself.

“My performance this season is just average and I am looking to improve.”

On Saturday, the Jets had their first loss of the season, with Oak Park running riot to take a 15.19.109 to 6.11.47 victory. Lucas put two goals through to be his side’s equal top scorer.

The Jets will line up against Doutta Stars this weekend at Greenvale Reserve with Lucas to play against a side coached by his former Essendon teammate John Barnes.