From 2019 to 2024: Matthew Cottrell returned to the same place where his Carlton dream became reality.
AS CARLTON returned for another pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast, there was at least a little room for sentimentality for Matthew Cottrell.
After all, with 2024 entering its final weeks, it’s still five calendar years since Cottrell was told he’d live out his boyhood desire of being on the list of the Carlton Football Club.
“Back where the dream was realised. Staying at the same hotel, the Mantra Mooloolaba – the little patch of grass where we did our first interview. I might have to sit back out there to run it back, ponder in my own time.
“I might call Dad again to see if he gives me anything. Did he give much back then? Did I? I don’t think either of us did.”
It was at 5pm on 8 February 2019 where the Blues officially announced that Cottrell – along with former Blue Michael Gibbons – were joining the Club for the 2019 season. It was also at around 10am on 8 February 2019 where Cottrell was being rushed for scans, after a collision at training saw Will Setterfield fall awkwardly across his leg.
The Club was really caring – I figured out why later, they wanted to sign me and didn’t know if I’d done any damage to the knee or ankle.
“Fortunately the scans came up clear and here we are – laughing about it in the same place seven years later.”
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