LUCAS, Scott

Scott Lucas was a powerful forward who could also play in the ruck or in defence. He represented the Victorian Country team in 1994 as a 16 year-old and caught the eye of Essendon recruiters who drafted him with the Club's fourth pick in the 1994 National Draft.

Tall, athletic and versatile, with a long accurate left-foot kick, Lucas made his Essendon debut in 1996 in the blockbuster Anzac Day game against Collingwood at the MCG in front of 90,000 people and went on to play 14 games in his debut season.

In 1997 and 1998 he played 22 and 23 games respectively setting the scene for a player who became one of the Club's most consistent and reliable performers.

A broken ankle in Round 10 against Adelaide, ended Lucas's 1999 season. Although he recovered in time to play in the Reserves 1999 Grand Final he was ineligible because he had played too many senior games.

The 2000 season saw Scott burst back into the side playing 23 of 25 games in the premiership year including the Grand Final win over Melbourne. He kicked 57 goals for the year, second only to Matthew Lloyd, with his best hauls being six against the Bulldogs, and five against Hawthorn.

Lucas had a quiet start to the 2001 season but once he found form he was a valuable contributor. He polled Best and Fairest votes in 11 of the last 19 games with 188 votes and was Essendon's best player in the 2001 Grand Final having also been a valuable player in the Preliminary Final. His stats for 2001 were 25 games, 297 kicks 135 marks and 35 goals.

In 2002 Lucas was the key to the Essendon forward line in the absence of the injured Lloyd, Hird and Mercuri. In the latter half of the year he switched to centre half-back where he excelled.

2003 was a year of triumph for Scott, in which he successfully moved from his favourite centre half-forward position to centre half-back. The long kicking left-footer provided run and stability off the half-back line, and amassed 301 votes in the Crichton Medal, to be equal winner with James Hird. Scott was also awarded with the Best Finals Performance and led the Club in general kicks and was second in both contested and uncontested marks.

In 2004 Lucas played 21 out of a possible 24 games missing three to a hamstring injury.

Lucas flourished in 2005 as an influential dominant forward target in the absence of Lloyd and played in all 22 games for the season. His main position changed from centre-half-back to centre half-forward and was still close to winning the Crichton Medal in this new role. He was the key forward on many occasions and was just pipped by Matthew Lloyd to be second highest goalkicker for Essendon with 51 goals.

His fine form continued in 2006 when he played every game (one of only three players to do so). In the absence of captain Matthew Lloyd, Lucas was the Club's key forward and he led the Club's goalkicking with 67 goals, and won the Club's Best and Fairest for the second time.

In 2007 Lucas again shone for Essendon, playing every game, kicking 61 goals (one fewer than top goalkicker Matthew Lloyd) and leading the Club's contested marks. His form won him selection in the All-Australian squad, although he did not make the final team.

In Round 1, 2008, he injured his knee putting him out of action for eight weeks. He made his return against Adelaide in Round10 and played his 250th game in Round 16 against Richmond.

Scott Lucas announced his immediate retirement in front of a packed media conference in the Essendon Hall of Fame on 18 August 2009. He later played with Greenvale Football Club for three years then became a successful player manager.

At his retirement, he ranked as Essendon sixth best goal kicker of all time and his 270 games put him eighth on Essendon’s games list.

Scott Lucas was named at number 48 in the Champions of Essendon (2002).