Matthew Scarlett
The unflappable, revolutionary fullback who anchored Geelong's dynasty with peerless defensive genius and lethal precision by foot.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Australian rules footballer, born 1979·Birthday: June 5·Generation X
Biography
Matthew Scarlett didn't just play fullback; he redefined the position for a modern AFL dynasty. In an era where key defenders were often just stoppers, Scarlett was a weapon. His game was built on an almost psychic reading of the play, allowing him to intercept marks and then, crucially, launch Geelong's attacks with laser-like left-foot passes. He was the defensive cornerstone of the Cats' golden era, a player whose coolness under pressure was as vital as his skill. Opposing forwards knew they were in for a long, frustrating afternoon marked by physicality and strategic brilliance. His iconic toe-poke in the 2009 Grand Prix, which set up a game-changing goal, is the perfect snapshot of his impact: defensive desperation transformed into offensive creation. Scarlett wasn't just in the Geelong team of the century; he was the architect of its defensive soul.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Matthew was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matthew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Matthew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played in three AFL premierships with Geelong (2007, 2009, 2011).
- Named All-Australian six times and was the All-Australian fullback in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
- Awarded the Carji Greeves Medal as Geelong's best and fairest player in 2003.
- Selected in the Geelong Football Club Team of the Century.
Did You Know?
His father, John Scarlett, also played for Geelong in the 1970s.
He famously used a toe-poke to dispossess Nick Riewoldt and create a goal in the 2009 AFL Grand Final.
He kicked a rare goal after a 90-meter run in the 2011 preliminary final against West Coast.
“I just read the ball better than my opponent, that was my strength.”
