Scotland appointed Deer Park coach

Heath Scotland is the new Deer Park coach. (Deer Park Facebook)

Tara Murray

Former Collingwood and Carlton player Heath Scotland has been appointed Deer Park’s coach for next year’s Western Region Football League division 1 season.

The Lions announced on Thursday night they had appointed Scotland to the role.

“The Deer Park Football Club is thrilled to announce the appointment of Heath Scotland as its senior coach for the 2023 season,” the club said on social media.

“Heath replaces Mark McGoldrick as senior coach. Mark had agreed to coach the club through an extremely challenging transitional period following the loss of half the playing list from the 2019 premiership year.

“He has done an amazing job, transforming the list, ensuring the club remained more than competitive and establishing a

terrific platform for the future.

“The club looks forward to the remainder of the 2022 season with Mark at the helm and is excited to welcome Heath on board for 2023.”

Scotland was coaching Sunshine, before stepping down earlier this season.

He had also guided Darley to a premiership in Ballarat Football League previously while also coaching at North Melbourne, Northern Bullants and Port Melbourne.

Before coaching, he played 268 AFL games (53 for Collingwood and 215 for Carlton) between 1999 and 2014. He appeared in two grand finals for Collingwood, was an All Australian for Carlton in 2011, won their Best and Fairest in 2012.

Deer Park was sitting in fourth spot heading into the weekend’s matches, which were after deadline.

Tara Murray