Scott Gumbleton Biography

Scott Gumbleton announces his retirement, effective immediately after yet another injury-ravaged season in his first year at Fremantle where he failed to play a game.

"It was basically that I had eight good years playing footy and I found out that it wasn't working for me, so I've decided to move on with my life and try something new," Gumbleton said.

"But that's all right, I'm happy with that.

"It's disappointing that footy didn't work out the way I wanted it to. But I can't fault myself for having a crack.

"I gave it all I had, it just didn't work out."

The future of injury-prone Fremantle forward Scott Gumbleton is up in the air after yet another setback.

Gumbleton was withdrawn from WAFL duties over the weekend due to a leg injury.

Scott Gumbleton is targeting a return to football via the WAFL within three weeks after recovering from his pre-season hamstring injury.

"I can't wait," Gumbleton said.

"I'm looking forward to going back and playing grassroots footy again, back home where my parents are, and all my friends are down there, so it'd be fantastic."

Scott Gumbleton will miss at least 12 weeks after scans confirmed he had torn his right hamstring.

Scott Gumbleton continues his frustrating run with injuries after leaving the ground in the first quarter against the Bulldogs in the NAB Challenge with a suspected hamstring injury and going to the rooms at quarter-time.

"I feel for him because he has worked his hardest [and] he has shown his character," Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said.

"He needs to be resilient from here and keep going and not drop his bundle."

Scott has put himself in line for selection in Fremantle's round-one team after a phenomenal pre-season, Dockers assistant coach Peter Sumich says.

"I don't think he's missed a session," Sumich said.

"He might have come off half a session just because we were looking after him, because he hasn't missed one. He's been terrific. He'll be an interesting inclusion for us."

Fremantle recruit Scott Gumbleton says he has been working closely with Matthew Pavlich to become a better forward.

"I told Matthew I wanted him to be really hard on me and teach me, and he said, that's fine," Gumbleton said.

"We've been working closely in training and in the weights room and we've started to get a good relationship going.

"Obviously, to learn off him is the most exciting thing for me, that's what I'm looking forward to, learning how to play in the forward line."

After moving to Fremantle from Essendon, Scott Gumbleton says it feels good to be back home in Western Australia.

"I have a fair bit of work to do and I am looking forward to the pre-season, working hard and learning some new things from Ross (Lyon) and some of the senior guys here," Gumbleton said.

"Fremantle have given me a chance for a fresh start and that's what I'm looking forward to.

"It's great to be back home and enjoying the weather. It was nice and warm but I'm loving it and it was good to start with a couple of the young guys."

Injury-prone Bomber Scott Gumbleton is traded to Freo for pick 55 but his manager Paul Connors says Gumbleton's injury concerns are behind him.

"The body has been great, he hasn't missed a beat for two years, so we're really confident in how he'll shape [up] and what he'll do at the Dockers," Connors said.

"It's an opportunity, he's keen to get home and have a run on the big ovals."

Dockers football manager Chris Bond says Fremantle are interested in key forwards James Podsiadly and Scott Gumbleton.

"The feedback we're getting is James is really keen to continue his career and really keen to strive to get another premiership under his belt, and hopefully we're a club he can see that in," Bond said about Podsiadly.

"Either of those two (Podsiadly or Gumbleton), if it was to eventuate, has to be desperate to play, and keep doing everything they can to improve our club."

Essendon coach James Hird defends his decision to leave star ruckman Paddy Ryder out of the side defeated by the Cats.

"The unfortunate thing with Paddy was that he was playing good football but was suspended for three weeks," Hird said.

"Scott Gumbleton was playing really well and you can't - in this type of football, particularly at Etihad - go in with too many talls.

"We really went with Gumbleton over Ryder. I think it was a good call to keep playing Scotty.

Essendon VFL coach Hayden Skipworth says Scott Gumbleton is physically prepared for round one after the big forward kicked five goals in a VFL practice match.

"He took at least seven or eight contested marks, and he looked really dangerous up forward," Skipworth said.

"As far as the physical preparation he's probably ready, but whether the coaches want to give him another few [games], that's their call."

Injury-prone Bomber Scott Gumbleton's pre-season training is interrupted due to a hamstring strain which is expected to restrict him until January.

Tall forward Scott Gumbleton re-signs with Essendon for another year despite interest from rival clubs.

The club has stuck by me with the injuries I have had and I am really passionate about the Essendon Football Club," Gumbleton said.

"While there were opportunities elsewhere, I have lots of good mates at the club and I am really confident in the direction that the team is heading."

Essendon's Scott Gumbleton has been put through a medical examniation by Freo's doctors as he considers a move west.

"We're never going to make any promises to Scott or his manager or Essendon that we can't keep. We've still got to work through some stuff," Fremantle football manager Chris Bond said.

Scott Gumbleton has been offered a one-year deal to remain at the Dons but has indicated he may look for more security elsewhere.

Coach James Hird says Scott Gumbleton's performance on his return to AFL football was 'remarkable' after the forward tallied 14 disposals, 5 marks and 3 goals.

"I'm pleased, not as pleased as he is - don't worry, there's a lot of relief on Scott Gumbleton's face," Hird said.

"We played him not knowing what we were going to get. We're just very happy for him … for this football club that was a remarkable result out there."

GWS coach Kevin Sheedy hopes Jonathon Patton doesn't follow the same path as Essendon's injury-plagued forward Scott Gumbleton.

"The best thing from my experience is don't rush these guys too early or, otherwise, you'll end up with the Gumbleton-type thing," Sheedy said.

"He was an early draft pick and he still hasn't had his body right five or six years later. You've got to be very careful here with certain players and their body maturity."

Essendon forward Scott Gumbleton returns from back surgery this weekend for the Bendigo Bombers in the VFL.

"It's a good step forward for him," Paul Hamilton, Essendon's general manager of football operations, told The Age.

"He's done a lot of work and we're happy he's got to this stage. We're happy that he's going to be out there getting a feel for the competitive part again."

Essendon says injury-plagued forward Scott Gumbleton's chronic hamstring issues are over after back surgery.

"He had a previous back operation, I think it was two years ago ... there was a lot of scarring around there and a bit of a problem to another disc," Essendon coach James Hird said.

"The surgeon was absolutely rapt with the way the surgery went. Scott will be back running around in six weeks."

Essendon says it will continue to keep the faith in injury-prone key position player Scott Gumbleton.

"This year he's had a few setbacks, but he's actually got his body right at the end of the season," Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton said.

"He's under contract and we need him to have a good pre-season - get him stronger, get him fitter, and have a real assault on the season next year."

Injury-prone tall Scott Gumbleton is set to miss at least two weeks after straining his hamstring while playing in the VFL.

"It is unfortunate for Scotty, who sustained a slight strain to the hamstring on the weekend, leaving the ground fairly early on in the (VFL) game," Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton said.

"It is a case of not wanting to take any risks and overall it is a minor strain, but nonetheless pretty disappointing for Scott."

Essendon forward Mark Williams has lost 8kg as he prepares for 2011.

"We'd love to see a good year for him in 2011 and it's important for him too," Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton said.

"He's working hard at his training and has his diet is on track so we are happy with his progress and we hope it can continue."

Essendon forward Scott Gumbleton may have played his last game for 2010 after suffering broken ribs against St Kilda.

"There is a reasonable chance he will miss the remainder of the season because normally with these types of injuries you miss three to four weeks and we only have four weeks of the home and away season left," general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said.

Essendon key forward Scott Gumbleton may play in the Bombers' NAB Challenge match on February 27 after progress with his injured back.

"We will ease him back into things and hopefully get him back on track again sooner rather than later," general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton told the club's official website.

"It's probably a bit early to call, but it is looking more unlikely than likely for Gumbleton to line up in the challenge match - but it's still early days and he is tracking well so you never know."

A back spasm sustained during a training incident has cost injury-prone Scott Gumbleton his place in Essendon's NAB Cup match against West Coast .

"He slightly twisted and locked up his back", said Essendon coach Matthew Knights.

"However, Jason Winderlich copped a heavy knock last season, had a back spasm, then three or four days later freed up pretty well. We're hoping it's along similar lines to that."

David Hille made a strong case for inclusion in Essendon's round one side with a good showing in an intraclub hit-out at Shepparton.

"He's cleared all the hurdles up to this point with his rehabilitation, so if he keeps going down this track, we'd be pretty confident he could line up," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said.

"He's a leader of this football club and he's got a big, strong body, which is really important against the really good sides in the competition.

Essendon says Scott Gumbleton will be ready for the NAB Cup, but the club will still be cautious about his return to football.

"He is travelling well," Essendon football operations manager Paul Hamilton said.

"He is doing everything in training and he tested well, so we are happy with his progress."

Essendon coach Matthew Knights hopes forward Scott Gumbleton will play again this season, but a run in the seniors is unlikely.

Knights said Essendon hoped Gumbleton's recovery, after surgery to repair a bulging disc in his spine in April, would mirror that of midfielder Jason Winderlich, who was operated on for a similar injury last year and has been a shining light this season.

"We've just got to hope Scott follows that path. Many times we've started with Scott but it hasn't worked out for us, or for him," Knights said.

"So we can only hope he comes through. We can't guarantee anything, unfortunately, because he has had a history of not being able to get on the ground over the last two or three years."

Young Bomber forward Scott Gumbleton has not given up the thought of playing again this season.

"I obviously want to come back and play but ultimately I don't want to risk anything," Gumbleton said.

"I'm just taking my recovery process week by week at the moment and will leave it to the medical staff and fitness staff to determine when I am ready.

"If I can play this year then it is a bonus but if not, I will focus on being 100 per cent fit for next year. I don't want to risk anything. I don't want to go out there a little bit sore and run the risk of being injured again."

Surgery on a bulging disc in the back of Essendon's Scott Gumbleton has been declared a success.

Luckless Bomber Scott Gumbleton is to undergo back surgery that will sideline him for about 12 weeks and most of the 2009 season.

A back complaint may see promising Essendon forward Scott Gumbleton out for more than half the season.

Young key forward Scott Gumbleton has sent a new injury scare through Essendon ahead of the AFL season, undergoing scans for a back problem.

Scott Gumbleton tears his hamstring in the early minutes of Essendon's pre-season clash with the Lions and will miss four matches.

The latest injury is Gumbleton's third hamstring tear in 12 months.

"We're not going to hide away from what's happened because we want to assist him so it's no use saying it's not serious because it is," Bombers coach Matthew Knights said.

"Scott's devastated, very disappointed because he understands the club is very keen to give him a lot of opportunities at centre half-forward or high forward and he understood he would get a lot of opportunities to settle into the team.

"I said to him last night, when I went down at quarter-time, his time will come and that he has to hang tough and believe himself and there will be a time when he'll play three or four years without injury."