Carlton best and fairest winner Heath Scotland has revealed his future Blues coach Denis Pagan savagely rejected a trade when the master tactician was at North Melbourne.
Scotland, who played 268 games, opened up on his experiences with Pagan, relationship with Mick Malthouse and why he left Collingwood for Carlton on Whereabouts with Heater featuring Heath Shaw.
After being drafted to Collingwood in 1999, Scotland was still not established in the Magpies best 22 at the conclusion of the 2001 season.
Denis Pagan's savage rejection to Heath Scotland's North Melbourne move
Scotland impressed for Collingwood in the final game of the 2001 season, leading then North Melbourne coach Pagan to reach out about recruiting the midfielder to Princes Park.
But Scotland made a fatal decision during talks with Pagan that ultimately wrecked a move to the Kangaroos.
"I played round 1 [in 2001] and think I didn't get another game until round 22 when we couldn't make finals," Scotland said on Whereabouts with Heater.
"I got an opportunity and had a really good game against North Melbourne in Canberra.
"Post-match, Denis touched base about wanting to meet. I had spoken to Collingwood the day before and said that I'm meeting Denis and North Melbourne. And if things go well, I might ask for a trade.
"The following day I met Denis and everything went well and he says, 'look, listen, we are going to get you over, but whatever you do, don't tell Collingwood we've met', because they were going to try to do it sneakily.
"Big mistake was that I didn't tell him that I had already told Collingwood. On the Wednesday during the trade talks, the first thing Collingwood said to North Melbourne was, 'so you're interested in Heath Scotland?'
"Denis Pagan rings me up a short time later and says, 'I told you not to say anything. You're not a man of your word. Deal is off'.
"It was out of principle and I learned a lesson there."
Ironically, Scotland ended up joining Pagan at Carlton at the end of the 2003 season with the coach crossing over from North 12 months earlier.
MORE: Melbourne vs Carlton: 'How could you not respect Michael Voss?' - Heath Scotland
Heath Scotland's relationship with Mick Malthouse and why he left Collingwood
Scotland explained that he didn't have the best relationship with Malthouse and a lack of playing time ultimately convinced him to move to Collingwood's arch rival Carlton.
"The relationship [with Matlhouse] was different," Scotland said with a smirk.
"I know it didn't work out in terms of player-coach relationship but he is a coach that I really respected and wanted to play for.
"Unfortunately it was a situation where I felt I wasn't getting an opportunity and being able to showcase what I can do.
"I probably wasn't in Mick's ultimate side so after a few years I looked for opportunities elsewhere."
Despite knowing that a move away from Collingwood was the right decision for his career, Scotland revealed the decision was painful.
And his career might have ended prematurely if he didn't join the Blues - where he played finals and won a best and fairest in 2012.
"When I sat there and asked for a trade [from Collingwood] to Neil Balme (football operations boss), I broke down in tears," he said.
"He asked, 'why are you upset for?', and I said I didn't want to leave but felt I had to after five years and what I felt was limited opportunities.
"And the irony is that even though my opportunities to play senior football were limited at Collingwood, when I did get opportunities game time was scarce.
"I was fortunate enough to come in for the main parts of it (Collingwood's 2002, 2003 Grand Finals).
"That year in 2003 I had only played six games leading into the finals - the writing was on the wall.
"At that stage, I think it looked like Nick Stevens was coming to Collingwood. The midfield was pretty much sewn up with the personnel there.
"It was more out of necessity for me [to get a move]. I felt after five years, if I didn't make a break then it might have finished my career a year or two later."
Scotland ended up playing 215 games at the Blues from 2004-2014, with the midfielder earning life membership at the club for his service.
