The 33-year-old made his name as one of Carlton’s most consistent players in 215 games in Navy Blue between 2004 and 2014.
But Collingwood fans won’t forget his contribution to several important moments in the club’s history during his 53 games as a Magpie between 1999 and 2003.
Scotland’s retirement means there are no current AFL players remaining to have played a senior game at Victoria Park.
Scotland was the last of the 22 men to have played for Collingwood in the final home and away match at the venue against Brisbane in round 22, 1999.
Ironically, the last three players to depart the scene with experience at Collingwood’s spiritual home were all playing elsewhere.
Andrew Embley (West Coast) and Simon Black (Brisbane) retired at the end of 2013 after playing at Victoria Park during the 1999 season.
There are links to Victoria Park that still walk the corridors of the Westpac Centre.
Nathan Buckley (coach), Scott Burns (midfield coach), Anthony Rocca (development coach), Tarkyn Lockyer (development coach) and Simon Prestigiacomo (Procurement and Operations Coordinator) still work at the club, as does Craig McRae (development manager), who kicked four for Brisbane in their 42-point win in the final game at the ground.
Scotland’s retirement means there are no active Collingwood players remaining from the 1990s.
The final Collingwood team to play at Victoria Park
B: Mal Michael, Simon Prestigiacomo, Tarkyn Lockyer
HB: Paul Licuria, Andrew Schauble, Scott Burns
C: Tyson Lane, Nathan Buckley, Gavin Crosisca
HF: Paul Williams, Chris Tarrant, Glenn Freeborn
F: Gavin Brown, Anthony Rocca, Nick Davis
Foll: Mark Richardson, Mark Orchard, Stephen Patterson
Int: Rupert Betheras, Heath Scotland, Scott Crow, Ricky Olarenshaw
Emg: Craig Jacotine, Ben Kinnear, Shane Watson
Scotland was also the last remaining survivor of the Collingwood team that lost to Brisbane in the 2002 Grand Final.
The 22-year-old was in doubt to hold his place in the team after winning just six disposals in Collingwood’s against the odds win over Port Adelaide in the Qualifying Final of 2002 but made an important contribution to the Preliminary Final win, collecting 19 disposals and kicking a vital second quarter goal.
He had eight disposals in the Grand Final against the Lions before winning another 14 touches and kicking a goal in the loss to the same opponents 12 months later.
In the weeks after the 2003 decider, Scotland, who had battled for regular opportunities in a midfield that contained the likes of Nathan Buckley, Scott Burns, Paul Licuria, Shane Woewodin, Shane O’Bree and Brodie Holland, was traded to Carlton in exchange for selection No. 35.
Of that 2003 team, only Rhyce Shaw (currently at Sydney) is still on an AFL list.
Collingwood’s 2002 Grand Final team
B: Ryan Lonie, Shane Wakelin, James Clement
HB: Paul Licuria, Simon Prestigiacomo, Ben Johnson
C: Carl Steinfort, Nathan Buckley, Glenn Freeborn
HF: Chris Tarrant, Josh Fraser, Nick Davis
F: Leon Davis, Anthony Rocca, Rupert Betheras
Foll: Steve McKee, Scott Burns, Shane O’Bree
Int: Alan Didak, Tarkyn Lockyer, Heath Scotland, Jarrod Molloy
Emg: Mark McGough, Brodie Holland, Ben Kinnear
Collingwood’s 2003 Grand Final team
B: Ben Johnson, Shane Wakelin, James Clement
HB: Matthew Lokan, Simon Prestigiacomo, Richard Cole
W: Brodie Holland, Nathan Buckley, Ryan Lonie
HF: Shane O’Bree, Jason Cloke, Scott Burns
F: Ben Kinnear, Tristen Walker, Chris Tarrant
Foll: Josh Fraser, Shane Woewodin, Paul Licuria
Int: Alan Didak, Heath Scotland, Rhyce Shaw, Leon Davis
Emg: Steve McKee, Jarrod Molloy, Andrew Williams
Congratulations to Scotland on an outstanding 268-game career. He is one of only 22 men to have represented both Collingwood and Carlton during their playing careers since 1897.
The final Collingwood team to play at Victoria Park - Round 22, August 28 1999
Back: M.Michael, C.Tarrant, M.Richardson, A.Schauble, A.Rocca, S.Prestigiacomo, G.Crosisca, T.Lane, H.Scotland, G.Freeborn.
Middle: N.Davis, G.Brown, N.Buckley (captain), D.Wheadon (assistant coach), T.Shaw (coach), D.Frawley (assistant coach), S.Burns, P.Williams.
Front: P.Licuria, M.Orchard, R.Betheras, S.Patterson, T.Lockyer, S.Crow, R.Olarenshaw.
