Scott Johnston was named Point Cook Football Club’s 2021 Best Clubperson of the Year. He chats with Alesha Capone.
How did you first become involved with the club?
I first became involved in the club when my son was aged nine, he is now 21 years old. During his second season, his coach at the time wanted to coach his younger son – who was playing for a different team – so I stepped in. I coached Zach all the way to the Under-16s. When he went into the Under-17s and senior footy, I stood back and let the experts takeover. He played with the reserves last season. Myself, I finished playing footy too early. It’s something that I always wanted to get involved with, coaching kids. I served as the Under-16 girls’ coach last year, and I will be doing so again this year, alongside senior men’s captain Nick Buykx.
It sounds like your family is pretty involved in football.
My father Graeme was a club legend down at West Newport Football Club. He coached a couple of junior teams, while me and my brother played there, I think when I was knee-high to a grasshopper. I remember my junior football coach, Stan, even to the girls I coach nowadays I say some of the things that he said to me. He certainly gave me a lot of fond memories and had a big impact on my life. Just the impression that he left on me, it gives me that fuzzy feeling that I could have that impact on some other younger players. I don’t know if I am having that impact, you’d have to ask the girls.
What do you enjoy most about being involved with the Point Cook Football Club?
I like seeing Zack and his friends develop from the start of the season to the end. It’s a good sense of achievement at the end of it all.
How did you feel to receive the Best Clubperson of the Year award?
It’s actually, truthfully, made me feel a bit uncomfortable about it all. There maybe were a few others who deserved it before me, there are a lot of people around the club who do a great job. I am just a coach.
What’s your approach as a coach?
There have been seasons where I have coached more than one team. If other teams need help, I just help out when I can. I think you have to go down there and be yourself and the kids will have fun, they will see through you if you pretend to be someone else. Make it fun for the kids, that’s the main thing – win, lose or draw, make it fun for them and they will come back.
