Not only at Geelong but around the AFL currently his rap sheet is un- matched:
3rd Reserves B&F 1999
Rising Star Nominee 2000
Runner- Up Geelong B&F 2001, 2004, 2005
Winner Geelong B&F 2003
International Rules rep. 2002, 2003
All- Australian 2003, 2004, 2007
AFLPA MVP Nominee 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007
Geelong HOF Inductee 2006
Reverse Coleman 1st 2003, 1st 2004, 3rd 2005, 2nd 2006, 1st 2007
NAB Cup Premiership Captain 2006
Premiership Full Back 2007
Victorian State of Origin Full Back 2008?
... and perhaps the mantle as Australian Football's best rebounding key defender since David Dench.
Such an accomplished career isn't it? Geelong boy, born and raised, with such a strong affinity to the club. People would probably not realise it behind his steely and somewhat reserved demeanour but there are few things that mean more to Scarlo than the Geelong Football Club. He truly does bleed for the navy and white hoops.
In a radio interview several years ago, after a game in Brisbane, Scarlett claimed that he would rather retire than play for another club. In his All- Australian acceptance speeches, he would always shy away from the matter of personal success and turn it back onto just doing everything he could to get Geelong back to the top. Now they are there and I think there a few who have deserved it more than Scarlo.
Looking back now, it was Scarlett upon whom the foundations for this current Geelong group were built. His accomlishmnets span way above and beyond what he has done as an individual, but what he has given to the GFC in it's entirety.
Coach Mark Thompson, had always intended to build his young side from the defence up, and it was Matthew who he earmarked as the man to make sure it worked. By the early part of this century, he was established as perhaps the only Geelong player of any renowned profile or standing in the football world. As Scarlett continued his rapid rise, despite the ailings of the remainder of the team, he was the general of a stout Cats defence that was would always keep the opposition honest, and was revelling as one of the league's better back units, and suddenly Thompson's blueprint was coming into fruition.
Since that time, the Cat's have stamped themselves as a genuine league powerhouse, fueled by it's greatest strength: a versatile, cohesive and punishing defence, which in turn has has been marshalled by it's enforcer Matthew Scarlett. It was he who all but put Geelong back on the map.
Anyone who has revelled as I in the aftermatch celebrations of the Grand Final, would have seen Scarlett shed a rare and brief, yet so meaningful tear on the field amongst the crush of his teammates, you could see exactly how much it mean't to him, and to those out there who criticised his desire, his attitude and application for his team, eat your ignorant words.
Matty Scarlett: The Best.