Scott will take on the leadership role of the returning Sea Eagles first grade outfit as Group 16 looks to dawn on the strongest senior competition in about a decade. 

Club president Peter Finucane said it was a delight to have Scott coming into the role. 

“When he applied for the position we didn’t hesitate to sign him up,” Finucane said. “He’s had a fairly big influence in Group 16 and he’s got a very gifted football brain.”

News of the signing has also raised the presence of the club ahead of pre-season training with some extra players now eager to don the Maroon and White. 

“We’ve had a few calls from guys wanting to join in [because they heard James is coaching] it’s been really good. 

A casual meet and greet on Sunday was a start to what Finucane said had been a buzz around town for the club’s top grade return. 

“The buzz and support has been unreal, people are throwing their support and some have offered to lend us a hand with off-the-field events too, which is incredibly positive,” he said. 

A number of club juniors will make a return to the Sea Eagles with Finucane noting players like Malcolm Green and Luke Dowdle back in the fold. 

“We’re thrilled to see the juniors coming back like Malcolm, he has been playing in Newcastle and is a very competent footballer.”

Playing out of lock, Green will help form a backbone in the forward pack, while Finucane said Dowdle was also very capable up front alongside the welcome return of Reuben Smahel. 

“We’re really happy to have these guys back with us,” he said. “We’re going to have a good size forward pack and Luke and Reubs are both young, they have heaps of potential to just keep getting better.”

Clay Childs will reprise his role coaching the reserve grade Sea Eagles with the club just one game shy of a grand final appearance in 2018.

“Clay is away on a holiday right now, but once he’s back we’ll get into the swing of things for pre-season training,” Finucane said adding he had been a great leader for the club last season. 

However, Finucane said a critical focus this year was for the Sea Eagles to be more social and hold community days while partnering up more with the junior club to unify and focus football in the coastal town. 

“We want a really good social year and we’re just trying to get a good flow on from juniors back into the seniors.”

“We want to position ourselves as a family club and we think James is a perfect fit, he’s always coached his boys and he will bring a great family orientation to the top grade.”

Pre-season training is set to start late January.