Paddy Scanlan made his league debut in 1920, he moved to Footscray in 1927 and he coached South Melbourne.
Scanlan made his league debut in 1920 for South Melbourne and went on to play exactly 100 games for the club, captaining them from 1923 to 1926. In 1927 he moved to Footscray and was appointed captain-coach. He retired as a player after the 1928 season and went to Richmond to coach the seconds; the team won the premiership and he then returned South Melbourne as coach of the seniors for two seasons. 
