Heath’s unique place in Carlton-Collingwood history

IN THE long and storied years of both Carlton and Collingwood, Heath Scotland’s connection with each of the game’s greatest rivals is truly unique.

History records Scotland as the only footballer to have featured in the final AFL games for both clubs at their respective inner-city venues.

In his maiden season as a League footballer, ‘Scotto’ represented the Magpies in their last hurrah at Victoria Park in Round 22, 1999 – and he was there for the Blues when the curtain came down on Princes Park in Round 9, 2005.

In the first instance, Scotland, together with the likes of the-then captain Nathan Buckley, Paul Licuria, Mal Michael and Paul Williams, heard the-then Collingwood coach Tony Shaw reflect on Victoria Park’s rich history in his pre-match address prior to the match with Brisbane. “The era stops today,” Shaw told his players at the time, “and you have been given the greatest honour of all time to represent your club”.

The Magpies, with just four wins from 21 starts, were propping up the ladder back then, and in third-placed Brisbane they encountered a Leigh Matthews-coached outfit boasting captain Michael Voss and Craig McRae – today’s Carlton and Collingwood Senior Coaches respectively.

Not surprisingly, the Carringbush couldn’t go with the Lions (8.4 (52) to 13.16 (94)) – and when the final siren sounded the old ground’s death knell, the black-and-white flag flying between the Sherrin and Rose Stands was lowered for the last time.

As with Collingwood in 1999, Carlton ended the season in last position with just four wins to show for 2005 – and on that historic Saturday afternoon in May, Scotland – having crossed to Carlton two years previous – heard Denis Pagan pay homage to Princes Park and its people in his pre-match address.

Sadly, Scotland experienced another defeat in that historic moment in time, with Carlton falling 18 points adrift of the Neale Daniher-coached Demons (amongst them the late Colin Sylvia and the best afield Brock McLean) 13.14 (92) to 15.20 (110) – and at game’s end he joined the likes of Anthony Koutoufides, Eddie Betts, David Teague and Lance Whitnall in forming a guard of honour for the great John Nicholls as he raised the match-day ball in the shadows of the Robert Heatley Stand.

In recalling his very personal dates with destiny at both Victoria Park and Princes Park, Scotland conceded: “It’s a great trivia question, isn’t it?”.

“It’s a long time ago now, but what I do remember about those final AFL games at Victoria Park and Princes Park was the raw passion and emotion of the supporters who saw their grounds as religious places,” Scotland said.

“The last game at Victoria Park happened in my first year as a player and I was energised and excited, but as with the game at Princes Park the team lost, and having played in both of them I was disappointed we couldn’t get the job done.

“Looking back, it was great to be involved in those final games. It was real privilege to play at those venues period, let alone for the last time.”

For the record, Scotland, then an 18 year-old Western Jets hopeful, was taken by Collingwood with its third selection (No.44 overall) in the 1998 national draft. He would represent Collingwood in 53 senior matches between 1999 and 2003 and earn the Joseph Wren Memorial Medal for reserve grade best and fairest in 2001.

At the end of season 2003, Collingwood traded Scotland to Carlton in exchange for the Blues’ third round selection (No.35 overall) in that year’s AFL draft. The Magpies nominated South Fremantle’s Brent Hall with selection No.35, but Hall managed just one senior appearance for them – the Round 16 match of 2005 against Essendon on the MCG.

But Scotland represented Carlton with distinction in 215 senior appearances between 2000 and 2014, during which time he earned the John Nicholls Medal in 2012.

Scotland said people have often asked how both the Carlton and Collingwood clubs compare, and he has a stock response.

“To be honest the clubs are very similar – so much history and tradition, so much expectation.”

“When I first joined Collingwood and then Carlton the venues were all run down, but even then I was mindful of the history of both of them and I found them eerily similar.”

Scotland is one of 30 players known to have played senior VFL/AFL football for both Carlton and Collingwood since the League’s inception in 1897.

The following is a senior Carlton-Collingwood combine of the 22 players including Scotland (plus four emergencies and a further four top-ups):

There are also seven further players who have represented both sides at AFLW level: Christina Bernardi, Lauren Brazzale, Brianna Davey, Alison Downie, Amelia Mullane, Nicola Stevens and Amelia Velardo.