Matthew Scarlett

Matthew Scarlett
Personal information
Full name	Matthew Scarlett
Date of birth	5 June 1979 (1979-06-05) (age 32)
Place of birth	Geelong, Victoria
Original team	Geelong Falcons
Draft	45th overall (father/son), 1997 Geelong
Height/Weight	192cm / 94 kg
Position(s)	Fullback
Club information
Current club	Geelong
Number	30
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1998–	Geelong	268 (17)
Representative team honours
Years	Team	Games (Goals)
2008	Victoria	1 (0)
International team honours
2002–2003	Australia	4
1 Playing statistics to end of 2011 season . 2 State and International statistics correct as of 2008.
Career highlights
Geelong premiership player 2007, 2009, 2011 Carji Greeves Medal 2003 All-Australian team 2003, 2004, 2007–2009, 2011

Matthew Scarlett (born 5 June 1979) is an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A fullback, 1.92 metres (6 ft 4 in) tall and weighing 94 kilograms (207 lb), Scarlett is the eldest son of former Geelong footballer John Scarlett.

Scarlett was selected by Geelong with the 45th overall pick in the 1997 AFL Draft under the father-son rule, and made his senior debut for the club in the final round of the 1998 AFL season. Scarlett plays predominantly as a fullback, and has garnered a long list of individual accolades. He is a triple premiership player from Geelong's premiership-winning teams of 2007, 2009 and 2011, has won a Carji Greeves Medal and been selected to six All-Australian sides, the most selections for a Geelong player. As well as this, Scarlett has been inducted into the Geelong Football Club Hall of Fame, represented the Victorian state team in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match and represented Australia in International rules football.

AFL career

Early career (1998—1999)

Scarlett was drafted by the Geelong Football Club under the father-son rule with their fourth selection in the 1997 AFL Draft, and was the forty-fifth overall draft pick. Scarlett made his senior debut for the club in the final round of the 1998 AFL season, where he garnered six disposals and took two marks. Scarlett made five senior appearances in total during the following season, which included his first goal, and spent the majority of the year playing with the reserves team, where he placed third in the best and fairest.

Establishment in the side (2000—2001)

Following his limited playing opportunities in his first two seasons, Scarlett established himself in the senior side during the 2000 AFL season, playing in 21 games. This included his finals debut in Geelong's elimination final against Hawthorn, in which they were ultimately defeated by nine points. This capped off a breakthrough season for Scarlett, scoring two goals, achieving his first match in which he gathered at least ten possessions, and earning an AFL Rising Star nomination. Scarlett played a further 20 games and scored another two goals in 2001, a season in which had three games with 20 or more disposals. He was rewarded for his efforts by finishing runner-up in the club's best and fairest award, the Carji Greeves Medal.

Consistency rewarded (2002—2006)

Scarlett celebrated his 50th game in the third round of the 2002 season with a victory over Kangaroos. He was awarded his first Brownlow Medal votes after achieving 26 possessions in a match against Port Adelaide in round eight. At the conclusion of the season, Scarlett was awarded the club's coach's award, and selected to represent Australia in an International rules football series against Ireland. Scarlett played in every game for the second successive season in 2003, and had a career-high of 15 marks in round 16 against the Western Bulldogs. His consistent high number of marks was reflected when, at season's end, he was ranked 14th in the league for total marks, having obtained 134 marks throughout the 2003 season. Scarlett's performances throughout the season were recognised when he was awarded the club's best and fairest award, the Carji Greeves Medal, as well as achieving All-Australian honours for the first time in his career, and again representing Australia in International rules football.

Following another season without participation in the finals series, Scarlett and his team-mates began their 2004 campaign with an appearance in the pre-season competition final against St Kilda. During the home-and-away period, Scarlett helped the Cats compile a 15–7 win-loss record to qualify for their first finals series in four years. Geelong progressed to the preliminary finals, before losing to Brisbane for a spot in the 2004 AFL Grand Final. Scarlett made twenty-five appearances in total over the course of the season, participating in every match. His high participation rate was realised when he spent all but three minutes in total of the season's matches on the field. Scarlett shared his 100th match with fellow Geelong defender Tom Harley in a 23-point victory over Essendon in the ninth round of the season. He once again finished the year ranked high within the league for total marks (132), placing equal eleventh. He gathered further individual accolades, finishing runner-up in club best and fairest voting, as well as earning an All-Australian selection for the second-consecutive season. The following year, Geelong again qualified for the finals series after finishing the home-and-away campaign with a 12–10 win-loss record. They progressed through to the semi-finals, before a three-point loss to the Sydney Swans ended their season. Scarlett's consistency, reflected with his appearance in twenty-five games during the year and ranking equal twelfth for total marks within the league (146), was rewarded with a runner-up finishing in the club best and fairest award. Scarlett's consistent appearance within the Geelong side was recognised when he played in his 100th-consecutive game for the club in round 16.

After consecutive appearances in the finals series, Scarlett and Geelong were expected to challenge for the premiership once again in 2006. The club's 2006 campaign began successfully when, captained by Scarlett, they captured the pre-season NAB Cup, winning their first pre-season premiership since 1961. During the season, Scarlett's streak of four consecutive seasons of featuring in every Geelong match was broken following a two-game hiatus in the second and third rounds. Despite this, Scarlett played in 20 of 22 games for the season, including his 150th senior appearance for the club. He had a career-best 34 possessions in round 16, which was a one-point win over the Western Bulldogs, and garnered 13 or more possessions in 17 of his games. However, the Cats only managed to win 10 games throughout the season and missed qualification for the finals series. Scarlett finished the season unusually, playing as a forward in the final two matches, managing three goals for a season-total of four.

Triple premiership player (2007—present)

Scarlett helped the Cats finish the home-and-away campaign first on the ladder to win the McClelland Trophy. Geelong progressed through to the 2007 AFL Grand Final, where they defeated Port Adelaide by a record 119 points to capture their first premiership since 1963.

Scarlett played in 24 games for the year and gathered a range of individual accolades. After earning his first premiership medal in the Grand Final victory, where he placed third in the Norm Smith Medal voting after gathering 29 possessions and scoring two behinds, Scarlett also achieved All-Australian honours for the third time in his career. Scarlett also had at least 10 disposals in every match for the season, with nine of these totals above 20. As well as the premiership victory, Scarlett also celebrated his 100th win for the club, which came in Geelong's qualifying final victory over the Kangaroos.

Scarlett helped the Cats achieve a record-equalling 21-win season and secure the McClelland Trophy for the second successive year in 2008. His standout season was recognised early on when he was selected to play for Victoria in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match, and was later selected to his fourth All-Australian team, again as fullback. Scarlett made his 200th senior appearance for the club in round eighteen against Richmond, surpassing his father's total of 183 games for the club. He also set a career-best total of 14 handpasses in round 16 against the Western Bulldogs, finishing with 32 possessions. Despite having eight games with a minimum of 20 disposals, Scarlett failed to kick a goal for first time since 2003. Having qualified for the finals series in first position on the ladder, Geelong progressed through to the Grand Final for the second successive season. Despite losing only one game during the home-and-away period, Geelong failed to capture the premiership as they were defeated by Hawthorn in the deciding-game for the season. Scarlett performed consistently, but failed to have a massive impact in the final, gathering 11 disposals and one mark, as well as laying two tackles.

Beginning with the 2009 season, Scarlett has been placed on Geelong's veteran-list, where half his salary will come outside of the club's salary cap.

Statistics

Statistics are correct end of 2008 season (27 September 2008)^[1]

Season	Team	No.	Games	Goals	Behinds	Kicks	Marks	Handballs	Disposals	B&F
1998	Geelong	41	1	0	0	5	2	1	6	32nd
1999	Geelong	30	5	1	1	15	9	2	17	32nd
2000	Geelong	30	21	2	0	142	73	43	185	18th
2001	Geelong	30	20	2	2	189	112	87	276	2nd
2002	Geelong	30	22	2	3	171	85	106	277	4th
2003	Geelong	30	22	0	2	206	134	105	311	1st
2004	Geelong	30	25	3	3	238	132	96	334	2nd
2005	Geelong	30	24	1	2	251	146	111	362	2nd
2006	Geelong	30	20	4	2	237	109	87	324	7th
2007	Geelong	30	25	1	5	278	111	137	415	5th
2008	Geelong	30	22	0	1	200	75	168	368	11th
Totals			206	16	21	1932	988	943	2875

Honours and achievements

Team:

• AFL Premiership (Geelong): 2007, 2009, 2011
• AFL McClelland Trophy (Geelong): 2007, 2008
• AFL NAB Cup (Geelong): 2006 (captain), 2009

Individual:

• All-Australian: 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
• Leigh Matthews Trophy nominee: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007
• Australian representative honours in international rules football: 2002, 2003
• AFL Rising Star award nomination: 2000
• Carji Greeves Medal: 2003
• Geelong F.C. Hall of Fame: 2006 induction
• Geelong F.C. Coach's award: 2002

Other:

• Named a Geelong Football Club Life Member (2006)
• Vic Country U/18 (1997)
• TAC Cup Team of the Year FB (1997)

Milestones:

• AFL debut: Round 22, 1998 (vs. Essendon) at the MCG (Geelong won by 10 points)
• Finals debut: Elimination final, 2000 (vs. Hawthorn) at the Telstra Dome (Geelong lost by nine points)
• 50th game: Round 3, 2002 (vs. Kangaroos) at the Telstra Dome (Geelong won by eight points)
• 100th game: Round 9, 2004 (vs. Essendon) at the Telstra Dome (Geelong won by 23 points)
• 150th game: Round 12, 2006 (vs. Fremantle) at Subiaco Oval (Geelong won by 66 points)
• 200th game: Round 18, 2008 (vs. Richmond) at the Telstra Dome (Geelong won by 63 points)
• 250 game: Round 5 2011 v Hawthorn at the MCG

Personal life

Scarlett married his longtime partner Milla Warren in October 2007,^[2] which capped off his premiership-winning year and the addition of the couple's first child, a daughter Charlie, to the family in May.^[2] Scarlett also has another daughter Tayla, who is from a previous relationship with the daughter of former Geelong player Bruce Nankervis,^{[citation needed]} and is eight years older than Charlie.^[2] Scarlett and his family currently reside in the coastal town of Jan Juc, Victoria.^[2]

References

1. ^ "Matthew Scarlett statistics". AFL Tables. http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/M/Matthew_Scarlett.html. Retrieved 28 September 2008. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Pike, Lauren (29 October 2007). "Island wedding for Cats champ". Geelong Advertiser. http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/10/29/8305_gfc.html. Retrieved 1 October 2009. 

External links

• Matthew Scarlett's profile on the Official AFL Website of the Geelong Football Club
• Matthew Scarlett's statistics from AFL Tables

Awards
Preceded by Tom Harley	Geelong F.C. Coach's Award 2002	Succeeded by Corey Enright
Preceded by Steven King	Carji Greeves Medal 2003	Succeeded by Cameron Ling

Persondata
Name	Scarlett, Matthew
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	5 June 1979
Place of birth	Victoria, Australia
Date of death
Place of death