News Matthew Scarlett on Open Mike

[Cataholic]

Maybe after 06 he refused to accept it... Getting on the piss all night and rocking up to training not in top shape on regular occasions (from the sounds of it) sounds like accepting mediocrity to me.

He didn't change until he got put up in front of the group 1st with the leading teams thing and told to pull his head in....
That said him changing his attitude and training would have set an example for others to follow

Perhaps I should clarify......he refused to accept it from the time he matured as a player at the GFC, which coincided with the beginning of our most successful era.

Sure, he was a rabbit when he first came to the club, but he was hardly Robinson Crusoe. A lot of them had to pull their heads in, and to his credit, he did it as good as anyone and set an example for the rest of his career that was unrivalled.

 

[geelong_boy]

It was definitely made public that Scarlett said that he'd leave the club if Bomber got the arse. What I don't recall is whether Creswell was explicitly mentioned at the time.

Yes Creswell was named in the article.

 

[CharacterFirst]

He is very black and white as AM said.

I suspect he lacks sophistication on the more complex issues of life/relationships/people interaction.

Someone like SJ - who is a clever thinker - would unsettle him philosophically, and Scarlo's response would be bullish and blunt as he would not be able to master the subtleties of a discussion. Scarlo's pride would be pricked, and he would respond as a bit of a bully I think.

He mentions selfishness a lot. I would have liked him to be pressed on that far more in the interview. Just what exactly is the definition of selfishness? What does it mean, what does it look like? How does he understand it?

I think there maybe some irony in Matty's dislike of selfishness. He strikes me as (potentially) being a very selfish person indeed - "My way or the highway."

Did anyone notice, when he was quizzed about not having a public farewell (and therefore the fans missed out on saying good-bye) he looked briefly uncomfortable? I think he realised that he may have been selfish in not allowing the greater Geelong FC family to say thanks and good-bye.

A hard and uncompromising individual, which helped make him a great fullback. I wonder if he will allow life and time to mellow him, so he becomes a great person?

 

[footscore]

He mentions selfishness a lot. I would have liked him to be pressed on that far more in the interview. Just what exactly is the definition of selfishness? What does it mean, what does it look like? How does he understand it?

what did you make of the questions about individual awards?

I felt he may have been focusing on Ablett while answering those questions, he says he cannot understand why players take awards so seriously when it's all about the team and celebrating with your mates.
We know how upset Gary was when Judd pipped him for the Brownlow in 2010, he also left for money and turned his back on a team which went on to win more premierships.

I can't imagine Scarlo would respect him as highly as he did before the move and if Scarlett was placed in Ablett's shoes and offered that much coin, have a feeling he'd stick with his mates and the Cats

 

[CharacterFirst]

what did you make of the questions about individual awards?

I felt he may have been focusing on Ablett while answering those questions, he says he cannot understand why players take awards so seriously when it's all about the team and celebrating with your mates.
We know how upset Gary was when Judd pipped him for the Brownlow in 2010, he also left for money and turned his back on a team which went on to win more premierships.

I can't imagine Scarlo would respect him as highly as he did before the move and if Scarlett was placed in Ablett's shoes and offered that much coin, have a feeling he'd stick with his mates and the Cats

Maybe. Who knows?

If his style really is to be straight forward and upfront, you would think he would come out and say it directly about Jr. If he did, I think he would be partly right.

However to essentially dismiss all individual awards as worthless is childish. He loves being part of a premiership team b/c of what it means to him personally. That is just as selfish and individual as wanting to win a Brownlow. Why can't you have both anyway?

 

[CharacterFirst]

I can't imagine Scarlo would respect him as highly as he did before the move and if Scarlett was placed in Ablett's shoes and offered that much coin, have a feeling he'd stick with his mates and the Cats

Probably.

But remember, he was willing to storm out of the club and take others with him if he didn't get his way re the coach. He may have been right - in this case I think he was (not that Bomber T has covered himself in glory since at GFC or EFC!!!).

But it seems it wasn't just MS who wanted Bomber to stay and Creswell to leave. It's good to know MS shouldn't get all the credit for that move/call.

 

[footscore]

Why can't you have both anyway?

LOL
yeh right mate

Ask what Jimmy Bartel wants this year and then ask what Gary Ablett wants this year and then I'd ask you which one of those awards is what you as the supporter would like to see eventuate

 

[Catswin12]

Scarlett is a top bloke..Some odd comments around here on Scarlett..

 

[Cosmic Energy]

Maybe. Who knows?

If his style really is to be straight forward and upfront, you would think he would come out and say it directly about Jr. If he did, I think he would be partly right.

However to essentially dismiss all individual awards as worthless is childish. He loves being part of a premiership team b/c of what it means to him personally. That is just as selfish and individual as wanting to win a Brownlow. Why can't you have both anyway?

He also mentioned in regards to the Norm Smith in 2007 that he was happy for Stevie to have it as it "meant more to him", which maybe is another little dig about coveting inidividual awards. I'm not sure I completely buy the whole "why would you want individual awards" type of thing from Scarlo, or any player for that matter. His other actions maybe slightly contradict that. I mean telling a coach who you are playing on might be seen as a little selfish, even if you think that is best for the team. Or feeling dirty about your own performance when we've won.

I mean the modern mantra too "it's all about team", you can't really say anything else, can you? To me it doesn't matter what motivates all the different individuals as long as it can be harnessed for the good of the team. I think Stokesy even said he doesn't play footy for premierships, it's about comaraderie & mateship. Greg Williams wanted 40 possessions a game. Whatever it is, it's all good, and one player shouldn't criticize another for having a different mindset in that regard while it's working well.

 

[Zouz Kitty]

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After the show airs Fox Sports will put it up here...​

[click on the beard]​

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Excellent!!! Really enjoyed watching Scarlo - thanks Hot Tin Roof I like that he pulls no punches (oh except on that prick Ballantyne). Thought his honesty was refreshing!
I don't care what ppl say about Scarlo, he was delightful to me at the Carji Greaves and friends had photos with him at the Boxing Day Test. We all have on and off days, can't imagine what it's like to have ppl pawing at you. Not sure if I could be 100% gracious all the time.
Love how the players appear so natural - the Club does a great job teaching them how to respond to the media. None of those predictable responses - just taking it one week at a time etc. For a Sydney girl, just relish whenever any of our boys are on footy shows and especially Scotty - find him refreshingly open and honest!

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Scarlo would be the perfect prisoner of war - all you would get is name, rank and serial number.
Remarkable how his persona reflects his position on the field : tough , uncompromising, little fanfare , team focus and not giving away any more than you have to.
I really enjoyed it and look forward to it each week - it's great to gain insight into some of the great characters of the game.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Did anyone notice, when he was quizzed about not having a public farewell (and therefore the fans missed out on saying good-bye) he looked briefly uncomfortable? I think he realised that he may have been selfish in not allowing the greater Geelong FC family to say thanks and good-bye.

Everyone knew that the final round against Sydney was going to be his last game at Kardinia Park (I wasn't at that game, but I assume there was some sort of ovation for him as he left the ground). There was plenty of seats at last year's elimination final for anyone who wanted to pay their respects (I was one of them). That's more than enough. I don't think we needed Scarlett to do some sort of John Farnham tour. He's an introverted bloke and he was very upfront that 2012 was the last time we should expect to see him running around for Geelong.

 

[manboob]

I think there maybe some irony in Matty's dislike of selfishness. He strikes me as (potentially) being a very selfish person indeed - "My way or the highway."

To quote the great Richie Benaud "We work as a team but we do it my way".

 

[CharacterFirst]

He also mentioned in regards to the Norm Smith in 2007 that he was happy for Stevie to have it as it "meant more to him", which maybe is another little dig about coveting inidividual awards. I'm not sure I completely buy the whole "why would you want individual awards" type of thing from Scarlo, or any player for that matter. His other actions maybe slightly contradict that. I mean telling a coach who you are playing on might be seen as a little selfish, even if you think that is best for the team. Or feeling dirty about your own performance when we've won.

I mean the modern mantra too "it's all about team", you can't really say anything else, can you? To me it doesn't matter what motivates all the different individuals as long as it can be harnessed for the good of the team. I think Stokesy even said he doesn't play footy for premierships, it's about comaraderie & mateship. Greg Williams wanted 40 possessions a game. Whatever it is, it's all good, and one player shouldn't criticize another for having a different mindset in that regard while it's working well.

I think that is all pretty well spot on.

 

[Silverado]

Just watching the replay, some dry witted funny shit! My kind of guy, doesn't buy into the AFL company line too much, speaks his mind very simply!

 

[Sttew]

Three things from the Open Mike interview that surprised me:

1. First time I'd ever heard Scarlett speak! I "imagined" his voice to sound different.
2. Loved his prediction Cats "will" win the 2013 Premiership!!
3. What the hell was Robert Harvey's beef?

 

[BotsMaster]

Last nights ep was the most watched Open Mike ever.No suprise.

Don't normally watch the show, but I just had to watch this ep. Scarlett's answers were short and direct, just the way I like it.

To those of you who watch the show more regularly, how did it compare to the Doug Hawkins ep?

 

[Partridge]

Three things from the Open Mike interview that surprised me:

1. First time I'd ever heard Scarlett speak! I "imagined" his voice to sound different.
2. Loved his prediction Cats "will" win the 2013 Premiership!!
3. What the hell was Robert Harvey's beef?

Harvey was unconditionally worshipped by absolutely everyone in the football world - especially the media, and didn't seem thrilled that one player refused to kiss his feet. Fair enough, they're not all going to be best mates. Interestingly, when Blight was at St.Kilda he was one of the guys he was about to sack along with his mates.

 

[witsend]

Robert Harvey who?

 

[AM]

Harvey was unconditionally worshipped by absolutely everyone in the football world - especially the media, and didn't seem thrilled that one player refused to kiss his feet. Fair enough, they're not all going to be best mates. Interestingly, when Blight was at St.Kilda he was one of the guys he was about to sack along with his mates.

Poetic licence, Partridge?

 

[Partridge]

Poetic licence, Partridge?

The very, very strong rumour was the cleanout he initiated at Adelaide the second he walked in the door, he was about to repeat at St.Kilda. The players mentioned were Harvey, Loewe and Burke. Could be completely inaccurate. Could also be true.

 

[AM]

The very, very strong rumour was the cleanout he initiated at Adelaide the second he walked in the door, he was about to repeat at St.Kilda. The players mentioned were Harvey, Loewe and Burke. Could be completely inaccurate. Could also be true.

Well, let me give you my info.

It’s true that Blight didn’t rate Harvey as highly as many. Thought that although he accumulated lots of possessions he did so not in dangerous spots and due to the lack of depth in his kicking he didn’t hurt you much.

Four people went to FNQ to visit Blight to convince him to take the coaching job when he was wavering. One of them was Harvey.

Both Harvey and Loewe played for a couple of years for their old school club in the VAFA subsequent finishing their AFL careers. If Harvey was on some hit list to go he knew nothing about it. Less sure of Loewe but I suspect the same applied to him too.

 

[Scottland2007]

what did you make of the questions about individual awards?

I felt he may have been focusing on Ablett while answering those questions, he says he cannot understand why players take awards so seriously when it's all about the team and celebrating with your mates.
We know how upset Gary was when Judd pipped him for the Brownlow in 2010, he also left for money and turned his back on a team which went on to win more premierships.

I can't imagine Scarlo would respect him as highly as he did before the move and if Scarlett was placed in Ablett's shoes and offered that much coin, have a feeling he'd stick with his mates and the Cats

Mike should have pressed him on winning personel awards with "What does winning the Carji in 2003 mean to you?"

 

[Hot Tin Roof]

Excellent!!! Really enjoyed watching Scarlo - thanks Hot Tin Roof I like that he pulls no punches (oh except on that prick Ballantyne). Thought his honesty was refreshing!
I don't care what ppl say about Scarlo, he was delightful to me at the Carji Greaves and friends had photos with him at the Boxing Day Test. We all have on and off days, can't imagine what it's like to have ppl pawing at you. Not sure if I could be 100% gracious all the time.
Love how the players appear so natural - the Club does a great job teaching them how to respond to the media. None of those predictable responses - just taking it one week at a time etc. For a Sydney girl, just relish whenever any of our boys are on footy shows and especially Scotty - find him refreshingly open and honest!

I get the impression Matty is most comfortable in his own b&w controlled environment, where trespassers are shot, and survivors beheaded. He's a unique character alright. Misunderstood and still evolving . Happy to hear your experiences with the great #30 have been positive ones.

Glad you enjoyed the show, Syd

 

[RegHickeyStand]

I get the impression Matty is most comfortable in his own b&w controlled environment, where trespassers are shot, and survivors beheaded. He's a unique character alright. Misunderstood and still evolving . Happy to hear your experiences with the great #30 have been positive ones.

Glad you enjoyed the show, Syd

Hate to say this, but Matt reminds me a little of my son. lol Good guy, a different type of cat, though. Can put people off without exactly understanding why. Can find it difficult to read people in situations. And yet is also a good judge of character because he can be quiet and see whats going on around him. Not the same, but some similar traits.