BRAD Scott has been appointed as the new coach of the North Melbourne Football Club for 2010-12, but the ramifications of his appointment will be felt immediately.

The decision makes life interesting for the football departments at both the Kangaroos and his current club, Collingwood.

Scott is in his third year as an assistant coach under Mick Malthouse at the Magpies, who are sitting in third spot on the ladder with just two weeks of the season remaining.

The more immediate question was whether Scott would stay at the Lexus Centre as the Magpies pushed for September glory - or immediately be seen as an outsider and barred from the inner sanctum.

The next most pressing question was what happens to the football department at the newly-developed Arden St. Will Scott bring in his own people as he looks to remake Dean Laidley's team and club in his own image?

In regards to the Collingwood question, the Magpies didn't take long to sort that one out, making the obvious decision and choosing to part ways immediately, just as Port Adelaide did with Alastair Clarkson as they headed into the finals – and a flag – in 2004.

Carlton star Chris Judd also found out how quick clubs are to protect themselves, when he arrived at Subiaco Oval for his media conference to announce that he was heading to the Blues, and found that his electronic access tab to get into the clubrooms had been disabled.

But Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse was gracious in his parting words to Scott as he left the Magpies.

“Brad’s been an outstanding and valued member of our coaching team for the past three seasons, and will no doubt make the next phase of his coaching career a success. I wish him all the best," Malthouse said.

It's always a nervous time for football departments when a new senior coach is appointed, but Scott gave the impression of favouring incremental rather than radical change as he takes over.

"I've been very strong on the fact that I don't want to bring my own team in. I want to analyse the skill set that's already at the club and then work out where we need to go from there," he said.

"I don't want to bring anyone in with any pretence as to what we need. I need to have a look at what's there and then make judgements from there."

Roos chairman James Brayshaw was clear as to his preference about when he would like the 33-year-old to start at Arden St, saying that while Collingwood had the right to keep Scott at the coalface, he wanted him at Arden St as soon as possible.

"Utopia for us is that we get our hands on him as soon as possible," Brayshaw said.

"We've got list management discussions and we've got all sorts of structural things that we need to start working out for 2010.

"And I've always said, right from the start, the sooner you can find and name your next coach, the sooner you can start doing some serious planning for next season."

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.