Reported by Paul Amy
CASEY Scorpions captain Nigel Carmody will wear the black and white colours of the Collingwood jumper next season.
Carmody, a 142-game stalwart of the Scorpions, confirmed on Monday that he had joined the Magpies' VFL team.
Collingwood will be running its own state league team after cutting ties with its partner of seven years, Williamstown.
Carmody's decision followed meetings with Collingwood coach Gavin Brown, recruiting official Noel Judkins and football manager Geoff Walsh.
He admitted the departure of coach Peter Banfield had prompted him to "look around".
"It was the impetus for me to see what was out there, which is something I've never done before," he said. "It's pretty well known I was disappointed with the coaching situation. I thought Peter did a good job and deserved to stay on."
Asked if he had approached the Magpies, Carmody said: "I think they had me on their radar. We probably both got to the table at the same time. I was interested in what they were doing."
He said he was proud of what he'd accomplished at the Scorpions, whom he joined in 1998. He took his senior bow in 2000, was twice runner-up in the best and fairest and won two Leader Newspapers player-of-the-year awards.
"Ten years, 142 games, captain of the club ... they're good honours. I'm not sad at all. I've been very happy with what I've been able to achieve and deliver," Carmody said.
Casey Scorpions general manager Brian Woodman said he was sorry to see a long-serving player move on. But he said he understood Carmody lived in the inner-city, wanted to play closer to home and had Collingwood connections (his grandfather, Jack, played in two premierships with the club).
"We appreciate the contribution he's made to our club," Woodman said. "His leadership this year was outstanding."
Meanwhile, the Scorpions' search for a new senior coach hit a hump last Thursday when Adrian Fletcher took a role with Brisbane.
It's believed Fletcher had the Casey job if he wanted it. But he told the Scorpions he would be going to the Lions as an assistant coach in charge of the midfield.
The Scorpions still have some good candidates in the pot and will interview two more hopefuls this week.
*Banfield will coach VAFA A section club Old Scotch for the next three years.
