Matthew Allan

Career: 1994 - 2003
Debut: Round 15, 1994 vs Brisbane, aged 19 years, 126 days
1000th Carlton Player
Games: 140
Goals: 72
Last Game: Round 16, 2003 vs Sydney, aged 28 years, 143 days
Guernsey No. 24
Height 198cm
Weight 104kg
DOB: 26 February, 1975
Best and Fairest: 1999
All Australian: 1999
Victorian State Player: 1999
International Rules Series: 1999

Recruited from North Ringwood where he only started playing as a 14 year old (he also played at Mooroolbark and Olinda), Matthew Allan was drafted as a zone selection and spent a number of years on the list as the understudy to Justin Madden before finally given his go. He started playing for Carlton in the last year of the Under 19s in 1991 and wore number 44. He then played in Carlton reserves and in the Eastern Ranges Under 18s where he was a member of the Vic Metro Championships side and was an Under 17 All-Australian. He kicked a goal on debut against the Bears at Optus Oval in Round 15, 1994, and in his early years would be famous for wearing thick thigh pads.

When finally given the responsibility of being number 1 ruckmen in 1996 - 7 as Madden began to decline, Allan delivered on his promise. Beginning with more & more games (19 games in 1996), Allan would improve his stats seemingly every year and before too long was a competition leading ruckman, earning his first Top 10 B&F performance in 1997 - his first of 3 in a row.

Allan had a massive season in 1999 when he was All Australian, won the club Best and Fairest and played in the Grand Final. He would manage 19 goals, as a ruckman, and break his own impressive average disposals output with 15.6 per game. The Allan - Capuano matchup was a key determinant to the game, and a match-up written about before the game, but Capuano would take the honours on the day whilst North took the flag.

The left footed Allan, who would hardly ever use his right, was famous for taking the ruck but - as distinct from the traditional kick behind play - would move forward to steal a goal or two. In some games, Allan despite his size appeared to be all over the field. He became a key player over 1998 - 2000.

However, a series of serious foot injuries over 2001 to 2003 reduced Allan from league leading ruckman to a guy who struggled to train. He managed just 8 games in 2001, 4 in 2002 and 6 in 2003. It was a sad sight to see one of our young players struck down.

In addition to his injury problems, Allan was deregistered in 2003, given some 'under the table' payments soon after our salary cap breaches. Allan was hauled through the coals, and with his injuries behind him, sought greener pastures away from Carlton. Wearing the number 24 in the Carlton seniors, the 198 cm ruckman had played 140 games for the Blues.

Allan was traded to the Bombers for Pick 57 in the 2003 Draft, where he played a further 2 seasons before retiring and playing 21 games and scoring 1 goal with the Bombers where he wore number 27. In 2006 he was the Bendigo Bombers General Manager.

Allan wore No.51 (1992) and 45 (1993) when he played with Carlton reserves.

At his best Matthew Allan was simply one of the best ‘all round’ ruckman to have represented Carlton and certainly played AFL football in the 90’s. Capable, due to his superior endurance, to play both ends of the ground whilst rucking Allan could also provide a mobile target up forward and convert at a good clip. Injuries however prevented Allan from showcasing his talents long term with his retirement coming much earlier than expected. Should Allan have been given greater opportunities earlier in his career when traffic jammed behind the likes of Harry Madden it would have been interesting to see his development graph and subsequent influence on field.

Milestones

50 Games Round 17, 1997 Vs Nth Melbourne
100 Games Qualifying Final, 1999 Vs Brisbane Lions

Career Highlights

1991 - Under 19s Encouragement Award
1992 - Equal in The Past Players' Association Encouragement Award
1994 - Reserves Best & Fairest Award
1997 - 9th Best and Fairest
1997 - Pre-Season Premiership Player
1998 - 6th Best and Fairest
1999 - Victorian State Player
1999 - Best and Fairest
1999 - Peter Sullivan Memorial Trophy (Most Carlton Votes in the Brownlow Medal)

Links

Articles: Career Limiting Injuries | Triumphs and Tribulations of a Blue Debut

Blueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Matthew Allan | Career Breakdown

Gallery

• 
  1996 - Matthew Allan (Select Footy Card).
• 
  Matthew Allan.
• 
  Matthew Allan.
• 
  Matthew Allan.jpg
• 
  Matthew Allan.
• 
  Matty Allan during pre-season training.
• 
  2002 - Matty Allan.
• 
  1997 Night GF - Matty Allan & John Barnes in ruck duel.Pic: The Age.
• 
  1995 Rd 15 - Matty Allan waiting for a call-up.
• 
  1995 Rd 22 - Matty Allan in the two's.
• 
  1995 - Matty Allan.
• 
  1996 - Matty Allan snippet (Feb 96).
• 
  1996 Rd 1 - Matthew Allan flies for a mark.Pic: Inside Football.
• 
  1996 - Allan laps up game time (10/04/96).Pic: Inside Football.
• 
  1996 - Allan stakes his claim (31/07/96).
• 
  1996 - Matt Clape goss on Matty Allan (21/08/96).
• 
  1997 - Matt Allan Article (12/03/97).
• 
  1997 - Allan's form bad for Harry (21/05/97).
• 
  1996 Rd 16 - Matty Allan in ruck duel.
• 
  1996 Rd 22 - Matty Allan.
• 
  1997 Night Comp. - Matty Allan.
• 
  1997 - Matty Allan Advert.
• 
  1997 - Matty Allan Advert.
• 
  1997 Rd 5 - Matthew Allan.
• 
  1997 Rd 7 - Matthew Allan.
• 
  1997 Rd 15 - Matty Allan.
• 
  1997 Rd 20 - Allan & King in ruck duel.
• 
  1996 Rd 4 - Unfurling of the 1995 premiership flag.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - Matty Allan.
• 
  1996 Rd 12 - Matty Allan.
• 
  1996 Rd 13 - Matty Allan.
• 
  1996 Rd 18 - Matty Allan.
• 
  1996 Rd 18 - Matty Allan.
• 
  1996 Rd 19 - Matty Allan spoils Stynes.
• 
  1996 Semi Final - Blue boys line-up.
• 
  1998 - Parkin: Give Allan time (29/07/98).
• 
  1998 Rd 21 - Matty Allan wrestles Tony Francis.
• 
  1999 - Matty Allan: Brownlow Fancy.
• 
  1999 GF - Blues Playmakers.
• 
  1999 Prelim. - The Stats that matter (Kouta & Allan).
• 
  1999 Prelim. - Matthew Allan.
• 
  1999 Prelim. - Allan & Brown sing the song.
• 
  1999 Prelim. - Allan & Silvagni fly for the ball whilst Nelson waits below.
• 
  1999 Prelim. - Allan marks as Silvagni watches whilst Nelson waits below.
• 
  1999 Prelim. - Hamill marks in front of Allan as Whitnall waits down.
• 
  1999 GF - Matty Allan: Best is yet to come.
• 
  1999 Prelim. - Ratten & Allan in the rooms.
• 
  1999 - Matty Allan.
• 
  1999 GF - The Blues despondant after the loss.
• 
  1999 GF - Matty Allan in ruck duel.
• 
  1999 GF - Matty Allan flies for a grab.
• 
  1997 Rd 5 - Matty Allan.
• 
  1999 - Matthew Allan.
• 
  1999 - Matthew Allan.
• 
  2000 - Matty Allan 4th MVP in the League.
• 
  1999 Rd 22 - Matthew Allan.
• 
  2000 Rd 14 - Allan & Hamill tackle Garry Hocking.
• 
  2000 - Blues lose Allan but gain Murphy (21/06/00).
• 
  2000 Rd 5 - Matthew Allan.
• 
  2000 Rd 4 - Matthew Allan.
• 
  2000 - Matty Allan Interview (23/08/00).
• 
  2000 - Matthew Allan.
• 
  2001 - Matthew Allan.
• 
  2001 - Matty Allan profile (15/09/01).
• 
  1992 - VMFL Champs: Matty Allan.
• 
  1994 - Matthew Allan.
• 
  2002 - Matty Allan article (10/4/02).
• 
  2003 - Matty Allan article (4/6/03).
• 
  2003 Rd 12 - Matty Allan.
• 
  2002 - Blues face cap charge over Allan (11/12/02).
• 
  Matthew Allan Pre GameImage courtesy of Carlton Football Club.
• 
  1991 - Matthew Allan U/19's.
• 
  1993 - Matthew Allan.