Scarlett A Star Post by: James Brayshaw 25 August, 2009 - 11:28 AM

(AFL/Slattery Images)

Got a thing about full-backs at the moment. I know I batted on about Presti a couple of weeks ago and how important he was to Collingwood's structure, this week I am casting my eye towards the best full-back in the competition and perhaps the best I have ever seen.

Matthew Scarlett has been out of the Geelong side for a while and it has not surprised me one bit that during his absence they have struggled. I am on the record as saying he is in the best handful of players in the competition and nothing I saw on Friday night, especially after half time, has changed my mind.

The Cats were in all sorts of trouble half way through their game against the Dogs and it took the dare, the run, the risk, the ball use, the courage of Matty Scarlett to drag them back into it.

History shows they went on to lose the game, but Scarlett was magnificent. I genuinely love watching him play football... And you can't say that about too many full-backs.

He is very fast, has beautiful hands, great judgement and uses the ball superbly. He also hates being beaten, which is the hallmark of all great defenders.

As a North man I am obviously a huge fan of the great David Dench. For people too young to remember that premiership winning full-back from the 1970s, he played the game in a very similar way to Matthew.

In fact he was the first full-back ever to dare leave his man and run with the ball down the field. These days if a full-back doesn't do that they are considered limited!

But as good as Denchy was, I was only a kid then and probably didn't appreciate him enough. I am in my forties now and have a full appreciation of what Matthew Scarlett is doing.

You should too. He is the best at what he does in the competition, perhaps one of the best tall attacking defenders there has ever been.

So Matty, awesome in the second half last Friday. I can't believe you haven't been honoured on this page before... But, mate, you are my Triple MVP.

Is Scarlett the greatest full-back ever?

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Leave your comment

• andy says

  scarlett has been super impressive for a long, long time.

  he'd certainly be right up there.

  Posted Tuesday 25 August, 2009 11:48 AM
• matt says

  NO WAY!

  i'd much rather someone like nigel smart from adelaide, or dustin fletcher from essendon!

  Posted Tuesday 25 August, 2009 11:49 AM
• gavin says

  scarlett is the best full back of all time. he has everything, skill, judgement, leadership, aggression and the attacking capabilties of the best midfielders in the comp.

  Posted Tuesday 25 August, 2009 4:15 PM