A Player's Perspective: Angus Scott

Like thousands of other Australians, Angus Scott found himself at the centre of efforts to control the spread of coronavirus when he was forced to self-isolate earlier this week.  

He had travelled to his home state of Victoria to attend his grandfather’s funeral and returned to Perth on Wednesday night.

“My grandpa had been quite sick for a while and he passed away, so that’s why I decided to go home,” Scott said.

“I expected to go back to Perth and into normal life but on Sunday the new isolation rules came into effect, which mean that interstate as well as international travellers have to isolate for two weeks.

“I tried to book a flight for Tuesday morning before the 1.30pm deadline but there were no flights left, obviously a lot of people were trying to get over as well.”

With the WAFL season postponed until at least May 31, Scott said he contemplated staying in Victoria in the interim but in the end decided it was best for his work and his football to head back west.

“I made the decision that it was probably best for work to be in Perth, even though I can work from home. For any updates with footy as well, I thought it was better to be over here rather than on the other side of the country.”

Led by a directive from the WAFC, players have been asked to train away from the club. Scott said the training program had been a welcome distraction from the unfolding COVID-19 situation. 

“It’s just a bit of a big unknown really,” he said.

“Footy has taken a backseat in all of this stuff. I’ve been speaking to the boys about how their work’s going, if they’ve still got work or what’s going to happen. A few are a bit intrigued about the isolation thing. 

“There’s probably bigger things that the guys have got on their minds so the training is almost a welcome distraction to keep your mind off what’s happening in the world.”

East Perth players have been training since last November and Scott said while it was disappointing to endure a delay to the start of the season, the players were well equipped to maintain their fitness outside the four walls of the club.

“You go through a full pre-season thinking that you’re going to start playing on a particular date, and all the club’s training is geared up to hitting that date,” Scott said.

“It’s just a weird situation but the club has really looked after us in terms of the programming. Wes (Salisbury), who looks after the Strength and Conditioning, has given us a lot of alternatives to keep us in good condition. 

“We’re covering a fair few kilometers. They’re real fitness based sessions that are keeping us aerobically fit, getting that base and keeping it for when we come back. For the strength side of training, Wes has given us three types of options – body weight exercises, home gym exercises and limited weights exercises. 

“It’s pretty comprehensive. The body weight and the tempo stuff might not seem like much when you look at it but it’s pretty challenging. Hopefully it holds us in good stead.”

If the WAFL season is shortened, one option that has been floated is a nine game season, plus finals. 

“I’ve thought about it personally (what the season might look like),” Scott said.

“I spoke to Jackson Ramsay briefly the other day about how it might be nine games. In the WAFL we’re in a unique position where we play everyone twice as it is, which is part of the fairness of everyone playing each other at a home ground. Nine games is still playing everyone once. 

“But the main thing on our minds at the moment is finding out the date that we can get back out there and start playing again.”

Scott said the support of East Perth’s members, sponsors and supporters had not gone unnoticed during the unprecedented period. 

“The club is doing everything they can to be able to get answers and to give us the best hope possible so that, when we do get to play again, we can make our supporters proud. 

“We’re hoping everyone’s families are safe as well. It’s the most important thing at this time, that we all stick together and are safe.”