New North Melbourne coach Brad Scott's pedigree and passion to be successful at the AFL club were the key elements in him winning the job.

North chairman James Brayshaw said Scott's "furnace in the pit of his guts" was exactly what the club was looking for as the Kangaroos took a punt on the youngest senior coach in the competition.

Scott, 33, was a combative two-time premiership player under Leigh Matthews at Brisbane, and served a three-year coaching apprenticeship at Collingwood under another legend in Mick Malthouse.

Brayshaw said North "had no hesitation" in appointing Scott after a process which saw him beat Hawthorn assistant Damien Hardwick and current caretaker Darren Crocker for the job.

The Kangaroos wasted no time moving for their man this week, after first missing out on new Collingwood assistant Nathan Buckley, then Sydney's coach-in-waiting John Longmire along the way.

"We needed someone who had a furnace in the pit of their guts basically," Brayshaw said.

"We wanted someone who wouldn't sleep until they achieved success for themselves, for this footy club and for this list.

"We needed someone who was a leader - someone who would put a stake in the ground and say to the blokes 'This is the direction we are headed and you are coming with me'.

"We're on the way from being good to great and our next coach had to have the teaching ability to take our group in the same direction."

Scott is currently the AFL's youngest senior coach, though Richmond caretaker Jade Rawlings, 31, could trump him if appointed permanently at the Tigers for 2010 and beyond.

Collingwood announced late on Monday Scott would be released from all responsibilities at the club immediately to take up the North role.

"He will not be replaced as the club will rely on its existing team of assistant coaches and support staff," the Magpies said in a statement.

Malthouse added: "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."

The Magpies look destined to go deep into this year's finals, and their decision will free up Scott to start his repair work at 13th-placed North once their season finishes, in a fortnight.

Crocker will remain in charge for the Kangaroos' two remaining 2009 matches, against St Kilda and Port Adelaide.

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