In his five seasons at Collingwood, Scotland was generally characterised as a midfielder or half-back flanker at a club which had several players of similar ability capable of filling that role; he therefore struggled to be a regular member of coach Mick Malthouse's regular 22. Scotland decided that his long-term opportunities at Collingwood would be limited under Malthouse, and after discussions with Carlton coach Denis Pagan, he requested to be traded to the rival club at the end of 2003. He had previously considered a move to the Kangaroos (where Pagan was then coaching) after playing only two games in 2001.