Matthew Cottrell (born 29 February 2000) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the Carlton Football Club through the 2019 Pre-season supplemental selection period.[1][2]

Matt Cottrell
Personal information
Nickname(s) tulip, moth
Date of birth (2000-02-29) 29 February 2000 (age 24)
Original team(s) Dandenong Stingrays
Draft 2019 Pre-season supplemental selection period
Debut 9 August 2020, Carlton vs. West Coast, at Perth Stadium
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club Carlton
Number 46
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2019– Carlton 68 (34)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2024 season.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early football

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Cottrell played football for the Pearcedale Football Club.[3][4][5] He played for the Dandenong Stingrays in the NAB League for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.[6][7] Although Cottrell only played 2 games in 2017, he cemented his spot in 2018 and played 19 games.[8] He is the grandson of former Carlton player Len Cottrell.[9]

AFL career

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Cottrell was not selected in either the national or rookie draft, but trained with and was then recruited to the Carlton Football Club in February 2019 in the pre-season supplemental selection period.[10] After playing his entire first season in Carlton's VFL-affiliate, the Northern Blues, he made his senior AFL debut in Round 11, 2020, against West Coast in one of three matches Carlton played in a Perth quarantine hub during the pandemic-interrupted 2020 season.[11][12] Later that season, in just his fifth career match, Cottrell kicked the winning goal two minutes from the final siren a come-from-behind victory against Sydney, in which Carlton conceded the first seven goals of the game before recovering to win 8.9 (57) to 8.4 (52).[9][13] Cottrell was elevated to Carlton's senior list from their rookie list for 2024 in late 2023, following an outbreak season in the Blues' first finals campaign since 2013, in which he kicked 11 goals, including 3 in his first finals campaign.[14][15]

Statistics

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Statistics are correct to the end of Round 23 2022[16]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2019 Carlton 46 0
2020 Carlton 46 5 2 0 44 9 53 8 4 0.4 0.0 8.8 1.8 10.6 1.6 0.8
2021 Carlton 46 14 3 2 118 47 165 37 31 0.2 0.1 8.4 3.3 11.7 2.6 2.2
2022 Carlton 46 18 9 2 159 108 267 71 32 0.5 0.1 8.8 6.0 14.8 3.9 1.7
Career 37 14 4 321 164 485 116 67 0.3 0.1 8.6 4.4 13.1 3.1 1.8

References

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  1. ^ Naghten, Tom (8 February 2019). "Carlton Blues sign Michael Gibbons and Matt Cottrell under SSP rules". Sporting News. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  2. ^ Beveridge, Riley (8 February 2019). "Blues sign VFL star, young gun under new rules". AFL Media. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Matt Cottrel". Blueseum. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Pearcedale Player Profiles". Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Matthew Cottrell - Bio". Carlton Blues FC Media. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  6. ^ Gabelich, Josh (13 December 2018). "VFL star Michael Gibbons and Dandenong Stingray Matt Cottrell have been invited to train with Carlton". Fox Sports. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Blues sign Gibbons and Cottrell". Carlton FC Media. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Matthew Cottrell". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  9. ^ a b Plerik, Jon (8 September 2020). "'I love his story': Blues' match-winner makes his mark". The Age. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Report: Blues sign VFL champion Michael Gibbons under new rookie rules". Fox Sports. 8 February 2019.
  11. ^ Filippo, Cristian (8 August 2020). "Team selection: A boyhood dream comes true". Carlton FC Media. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  12. ^ "Sunday teams: Dees drop Bennell again". SEN 111.6. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  13. ^ Hope, Shayne (9 September 2020). "Cottrell leaps into Blues' fans hearts". The Ararat Advertiser. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  14. ^ "List news: Cottrell promoted to senior list". carltonfc.com.au. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  15. ^ "AFL Tables". AFL Tables. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Matt Cottrell". AFL Tables. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
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