25 Facts About Heath Scotland

Heath Scotland played for Collingwood and Carlton, appearing in two AFL Grand Finals during his time with Collingwood.

Heath Scotland was awarded the Best and Fairest for the Carlton Football Club in 2012.

Heath Scotland featured in the National Under 18s Championships for Vic Metro in 1998.

Heath Scotland was recruited to the Australian Football League by the Collingwood Football Club with its third-round selection in the 1998 AFL draft.

Heath Scotland made his debut in Round 3 of 1999 and played twelve senior matches in his debut season, including Collingwood's Round 22 match, which was the last game it ever played at its traditional home ground, Victoria Park.

Heath Scotland became a regular for the Magpies in 2002, playing 19 matches through the season, including fourteen consecutively after Round 12.

Heath Scotland played in all of Collingwood's finals matches, including the Grand Final loss against Brisbane.

Heath Scotland decided that his long-term opportunities at Collingwood would be limited under Malthouse, and after discussions with Carlton senior coach Denis Pagan, he requested to be traded to Carlton at the end of 2003.

Heath Scotland had previously considered a move to the Kangaroos after playing only two games in 2001.

Heath Scotland was described by Tony Shaw, who coached him in his first season with Collingwood, as a truly skilful player, capable of kicking on with both feet, with good durability and a good football brain.

Heath Scotland played with Collingwood from 1999 until 2003 for a total of 53 games and 12 goals.

Heath Scotland was a regular player throughout most of his time at Carlton.

Heath Scotland played 11 seasons with the club and appeared in every game in five of those seasons.

In Round 9,2005, Heath Scotland played in Carlton's team in the last game it ever played at its traditional home ground at Princes Park; he had previously played in Collingwood's last game at its traditional suburban home, making him the only player to appear in both of these historic matches.

In 2006, Heath Scotland finished third in the Robert Reynolds Trophy, and had the second-most disposals of any player in the AFL.

Heath Scotland improved again in 2007, collecting a career-high 41 disposals in a match in Round 22 against Melbourne, finishing a close second for the Robert Reynolds Trophy, and polling a club-high 12 Brownlow Medal votes.

Heath Scotland featured in the club's leadership group from 2007 until 2010, before voluntarily stepping down in 2011.

Heath Scotland continued to play reliable football through this time.

In 2011, Heath Scotland played his 200th game and became the oldest player on the Carlton list, turning 31 during the year; in spite of this, 2011 was widely regarded by pundits as Heath Scotland's best season to date; he was nominated in the 40-man squad for the All-Australian team, but did not make the final team, and he finished 4th in the John Nicholls Medal.

Heath Scotland was awarded life membership of the Carlton Football Club in December 2011.

Heath Scotland played consistently well again in 2012, and although he attracted less wider acclaim around the league, he won the John Nicholls Medal for the first time in his career.

In 2014, at age 33, Heath Scotland was moved from Carlton's senior list to its rookie list, by being delisted and then redrafted as a rookie.

Heath Scotland played four games off the rookie list, before announcing his retirement from the AFL on 20 May 2014, citing a degenerative ankle complaint.

Heath Scotland played with Carlton from 2004 until 2014 for a total of 215 games and 69 goals.

Heath Scotland then praised his former senior coach Ratten at Carlton stating "For me, as a player and now a young coach, you learn from the coaches you've had and he was probably the man I learnt the most from in my time in playing".