Scarlett confirms end of career

Updated September 13, 2012 15:38:44

Geelong defender Matthew Scarlett has confirmed his retirement.

The triple-premiership player told coaching staff midway through the year that 2012 would be his final season.

Scarlett played 284 matches over 15 seasons with the Cats and his final appearance came in Geelong's 16-point loss to Fremantle in last Saturday's elimination final.

"I have decided that the 2012 season will be my last with Geelong and as an AFL player," Scarlett said.

"I have enjoyed a wonderful time with the club and am proud to have shared this with so many great team mates.

"Obviously the premierships stand out as highlights, but they would not have been possible unless we all worked together along the way. I am confident that this will continue in the future with all of the young players that have joined the club in recent years.

"I have also been lucky to have had many great coaches over the past 15 years. They have all made an impact on me as a player.

"I would like to give particular thanks to Chris Scott, Mark Thompson and Brendan McCartney for what they have done for me and the club during their time here. They were the most influential coaches in my career and I will always be grateful for that."

Rated as one of the game's best full-backs, Scarlett was a six-time All-Australian, receiving the honour in each year the Cats won the flag in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, geelong-3220

First posted September 13, 2012 15:29:17

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Cats hail Scarlett on retirement

Updated September 09, 2012 15:22:08

Andrew Mackie says retiring full-back Matthew Scarlett, a stalwart of Geelong's three premierships, will be "irreplaceable" at Kardinia Park.

None who know the publicity-shy Scarlett well would have been surprised by the low-key nature of his departure from the MCG following his 284th and last match - a shock 16-point elimination final loss to Fremantle on Saturday night.

Rather than being chaired off by his team-mates, Scarlett walked from the ground, barely pausing to acknowledge the cheers of the Geelong faithful.

For Mackie, a team-mate of Scarlett in the Cats' 2007, 2009 and 2011 flag-winning sides, nothing less than a fourth premiership would have provided a fitting farewell for one of the greatest full-backs in VFL/AFL history.

"It was really disappointing to go out like that," said Mackie.

"He's the heart and soul of the footy club.

"It's a little bit shattering.

"It's going to be hard to take and we're going to lose one of the absolute greats."

Scarlett told the Geelong coaching staff midway through the year that 2012 would be his 15th and last AFL campaign.

"You can't speak highly enough of him," said Mackie.

"He let them know exactly where he was at so the club could think about whatever they need to do.

"We're going to miss him.

"The guys who have been fortunate enough to play with him, he's taught us so much.

"It's irreplaceable.

"He's made all of us better players, we've got three premierships and a lot of it is because of him."

Mackie compared Scarlett's off-field demeanour with that of former team-mate Darren Milburn, who also called it quits last year with a minimum of fuss.

"(Scarlett) doesn't want it to be about him and that's the way he's been through his whole career," said Mackie.

"He speaks when he needs to and doesn't want to make it about him.

"He's an absolute great and a real Geelong person who we absolutely love."

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, geelong-3220

First posted September 09, 2012 11:40:50

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Scarlett, Mitchell under review

Posted April 26, 2011 20:19:00

Geelong defender Matthew Scarlett's 250th-game celebrations could end on a sour note following a heavy clash with Hawthorn's Jordan Lewis.

Scarlett crashed into Lewis during a marking contest in the final quarter of Tuesday's AFL match at the MCG, where the Cats steadied to win an enthralling contest by 19 points in front of 78,579 fans.

Geelong are second on the ladder with a 5-0 start to the season but face a nervous wait over Scarlett's clash with Lewis, who left the field dazed and requiring medical attention for a head wound but was quickly back in action.

The AFL's Match Review Panel is also sure to scrutinise an incident in the first quarter of Tuesday's match as Hawks midfield star Sam Mitchell appeared to bump Geelong's Steve Johnson around the head region.

Injuries could also take a toll on both sides in the coming weeks. Hawthorn small forward Cyril Rioli added to his history of hamstring injuries and ended the game sitting on the bench with an ice-pack on his thigh.

Geelong's Taylor Hunt limped off in the opening term of Tuesday's game with medial-ligament damage to his knee and could be out for four weeks, coach Chris Scott says.

Scarlett said he was confident he had done nothing wrong in the clash with Lewis.

"I watched the replay and I got the ball. I had no intent (to injure)," Scarlett said.

"Hopefully the right decision gets made.

"The replay shows pretty clearly that I hit the ball."

Both sides have the bye next weekend.

Scarlett says the Cats are looking forward to taking on Collingwood in round eight on May 13 at the MCG, although they must first negotiate bottom side North Melbourne at Kardinia Park on May 7.

"We're going alright but we're not setting the world on fire," he said.

"We know we've got to improve enormously so we're just working hard and trying to catch the benchmark of the competition which is Collingwood."

Sporting a black eye, Scarlett says he's appreciating his role as a spare-parts man behind key defenders Harry Taylor and Tom Lonergan.

"Both of those guys are developing really well and it sort of allows me to play on smalls and talls and help the side wherever I'm needed," Scarlett said after collecting 29 possessions.

He said Taylor was "probably the best mark that I've ever played with" and a future club captain.

Scarlett was buoyed by the birth of his twin sons Harry and Oliver to wife Milla.

"I picked them up from hospital yesterday. I've just had a great week," the 31-year-old said.

- AAP

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