Matthew Suckling Biography

Matt Suckling signs a one-year contract extension to play on at the Bulldogs in 2020.

"I always had optimism that I would be able to play on," Suckling said.

"I'm still feeling fresh and if the body holds up hopefully I can keep playing for as long as possible."

Matthew Suckling signs a one-year deal to remain at the Western Bulldogs until the end of 2019.

"Matthew is a key member of our group and we're really excited to have secured him for another season," Bulldogs list manager Sam Power said.

"He's had some injuries in the past month, but he was in career-best form this year before that, and we've got no doubt that when he returns he will continue to have a major influence on games this year and going forward."

Matt Suckling's troublesome Achilles will see the veteran defender spend up to another month on the sidelines.

The 29-year-old hasn't played since the round 11 loss to Melbourne, and he was a late withdrawal from the Bulldogs' win over Geelong after developing soreness in the warm up.

"Pre-game he had a flare up of his symptoms and we were required to withdraw him from the game," Bulldogs medical services manager Chris Bell said.

"We're going to be really cautious with our approach with Suckers and make sure we get some continuity in his training and look for him to return in the next three to four weeks."

Matt Suckling will play in his 150th game against the Crows in Adelaide this week.

"It’s probably something I didn’t think I’d get once I started my career," Suckling said.

"I got delisted (at Hawthorn) in my first couple of years and then had some success.

"I did my ACL (in 2013) and had to miss the whole year, watch the boys play in a grand final and then change clubs, which was hard also.

"Having an Achilles injury and watching the (Bulldogs) play in the 2016 Grand Final as well was also hard, but it does build some resilience as you get older.

"150 games is a special achievement and probably once I’m done, I’ll be able to reflect and be pretty proud of what I’ve achieved so far."

Matt Suckling fails to force his way into the Bulldogs' 2016 Grand Final side.

"Matty has had a sore Achilles for a fair period of time now and we've had to manage his workloads and training quite differently to the rest of the group," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.

"It's disappointing for Matty, but it was just too hard to omit one of his teammates."

Matthew Suckling says the two premierships under his belt aren't enough to take the sting out of being overlooked for the 2016 Grand Final.

"I'm not content," he said at Friday's Grand Final parade.

"I want to keep winning and have more success.

"Hopefully I get a chance but the boys played so well last week (so) no need to change a winning side."

Former Hawk Matt Suckling plays a part in the Bulldogs team that ends Hawthorn's dream of a fourth-consecutive flag after a 23-point win in the semi-final.

"A little bit bittersweet, (I have) a lot of close mates at the Hawks," Suckling said about the win.

"To see them devastated last night (is) a little bit hard but yeah very happy for myself and the Bulldogs and moving into a prelim."

Matt Suckling will spend the next four weeks on the sidelines after an ankle complaint he sustained against the Brisbane Lions proved worse than first thought.

"We think (he'll miss) about a month, (I) don't think it will be less than that, it could be a little bit more," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.

"His knee is fine, the ankle not so good, but the great thing is that we'll get him back."

Matt Suckling aggravates an ankle injury while damaging the medial ligament in his right knee after landing awkwardly in a marking contest against Brisbane.

"He's just tweaked his medial ligament a little bit, but it was more the ankle that we were concerned (about), so we took him out of business and sat him down because we need him for a lot longer than just tonight," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.

"We'll see how he comes up. He might be in doubt for next Friday night, but there's no significant structural damage – he's just going to be sore in the knee and the ankle."

Suckling admitted that he initially feared he had re-torn the ACL graft in his right knee.

"Yeah, that's the first thing I thought. Anything other than that is a happy result, so I'm in a positive mood," he said.

"I'm pretty sore. It probably looks likely I'll miss a couple of weeks."

Ahead of his first meeting against his old side, new Bulldog Matthew Suckling has revealed a text message from an ex-teammate has given him a sneaky suspicion of what awaits him at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The 27-year-old is glad to get the initial encounter "out of the way" early in the season and suspects a life-long mate could be his opponent at the opening bounce.

"Isaac Smith sent me a text with our magnets next to each other (on the whiteboard), so hopefully that happens throughout the course of the night," Suckling said.

"(There's been) a few sly comments here and there, and I'm sure they'll continue right up to the game.

"It's definitely a different week because I spent a lot of time (at Hawthorn) and formed a lot of great friendships, but I'm on the other side now and I'm looking forward to it."

Hawk Isaac Smith says he is looking forward to playing against long-time friend and former teammate Matthew Suckling.

Suckling went to the Dogs as a free agent on a three-year contract, after the Hawks beat West Coast in last year's decider.

Smith and Suckling share a long history. The pair is from New South Wales and played together in the juniors at the Wagga Tigers.

They won consecutive premierships in the under-18s, a feat they repeated at Hawthorn in 2014 and 2015.

"I'm just looking forward to playing against one of my good mates," Smith said.

"I caught up with him the other night and have already been into him. It will be good fun.

"Once you cross that white line (though), he's just another Bulldog."

Matt Suckling says he hopes he can help the Western Bulldogs take another step in 2016 after bringing his extensive finals experience to Whitten Oval.

"I'm settling in really well, it's a great group down here and the whole vibe around the whole place is really special and they’re making it very easy to fit in," Suckling said.

"We do have a young list and I've been lucky enough to play in big games and finals over the last few years.

"So if I can bring any of that experience across then I'm happy to do that."

Matt Suckling said a message from Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge him realise that Whitten Oval was the best place for him to continue his AFL career.

"(On) Saturday morning I woke up and had a nice text from 'Bevo' and that definitely ticked all the boxes," Suckling said.

"He just said he really wants me to play under him, he knew I wanted to play under him, so it's a perfect fit.

"I think we have similar personalities, similar values and we see the game the same way."

After winning two premierships with Hawthorn, Matthew Suckling leaves the Hawks, exercising his rights as an unrestricted free agent to accept a three-year deal with the Western Bulldogs.

"This has been the toughest decision of my life," Suckling said.

"I've spent a third of my life here, it's all I know at the moment, so to make the decision today to walk away is something that growing up that doesn't sit comfortably with me to turn my back on someone that's given so much to me as this football club.

"So it's with a heavy heart I'm going to leave, but I'm looking forward to the next chapter in my life."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson praised Suckling for his contribution to the club.

"Matt has made a valuable contribution during his nine years at the Hawthorn Football Club and he can be very proud of his achievements, departing as a dual premiership player," Clarkson said.

"He is very popular member among players and coaches and we wish him well for the future."

Matt Suckling says the harsh reality of almost being dropped set off a chain of events that helped him restore faith in his kicking.

The damaging left-footer was omitted leading into the Hawks' round nine meeting with Gold Coast, and admits his confidence to hit targets was shot to pieces after a disappointing start to 2015.

Coach Alastair Clarkson told Suckling at the time he needed to recalibrate his radar before returning to the senior side, but a last-minute reprieve against the Suns turned his season around.

With the shackles released, the premiership-winning Hawk gathered 28 touches and booted a goal in one of his best outings this year.

"When I found out I was probably going to be dropped it released some shackles … I've been playing like a free spirit, and it's worked," Suckling said.

"I sort of live and die by the sword (with my kicking). I think confidence was the main thing.

"I wasn't backing myself, and when you second-guess yourself I suppose you turn it over, and that was what was happening. It was coming back in my face.

"So I've just got the confidence back, and I'm going well now."

Matt Suckling admits that free agency speculation has distracted him this season and says he won't rush to reopen contract talks with Hawthorn until his form improves.

"It was obviously something new to me this year, the whole free agency stuff, and I think at the start of the year it probably was affecting me," Suckling said.

"I was a bit flustered, so I found it easier just to put it on the backburner and just concentrate on this year."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says that Matt Suckling has to recalibrate his kicking to win back his spot in the side after being omitted this week.

"He's been a very, very good kick for a long, long period of time. He hasn't been as good in that regard over the last few weeks," Clarkson said.

"He'll work on that over the course of the next week or two. Since he's come into the side, I think this is the first time he's been omitted, since he was just a young fella.

"So he's been an important part of our side and he's just not playing as well as he possibly could at the moment. That happens to players. He's a pretty proud person and he'll bounce back pretty quickly I'm sure."

Matthew Suckling signs a new deal with Hawthorn that will keep him at the club until the end of 2015.

Hawthorn will opt for a traditional knee reconstruction for Matthew Suckling rather than LARS surgery.

"At this stage it seems that the traditional method would be the best," Hawks football manager Mark Evans said.

"He's got a little bit of bone bruising and that will probably determine how fast he rehabs anyway (and) that has to be respected.

"The pleasing thing was the other structures in the knee, the other ligaments, are all pretty sound."

Scans confirm Matthew Suckling has ruptured the ACL in his right knee and the Hawk defender will undergo a traditional knee reconstruction.

"It's obviously a devastating thing to happen to Matt on the eve of the season," Hawks football manager Mark Evans said.

"But his attitude will be to throw himself into his rehab program and come back a stronger player from this."

Matthew Suckling is believed to have suffered an ACL injury after being helped from the ground during the Hawks' one-point loss to Richmond during the NAB Cup.

"We'll get it scanned on Monday, but it doesn't look good – I think it's more than likely going to be an ACL," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"That's a great disappointment for us."

Matt Suckling was very nearly let go by Hawthorn but looms as a key Hawk in Saturday's Grand Final.

"In 2010 he had a terrific finals series in the VFL and that probably saved his spot on the list to be honest," Hawks head of coaching and development Chris Fagan says.

"I always remember Clarko (senior coach Alastair Clarkson) and I and the rest of the coaches really debating whether we would keep Matthew on the list, but his performance in those finals and the fact that he's always been a fantastic kick probably saved him.

"We had a frank and honest conversation with him at that time and we said, 'Mate, you're here because you performed well in the [VFL] finals, you've got a great kick and you're a really good person, [but] it's time to get the job done or you won't be here next year'.

"He hasn't looked back from that point."

Hawthorn defender Matt Suckling hopes his big summer in the gym will bear fruit in 2012.

"At AFL level you need to be strong over the ball, and that was an area I felt that I could improve in," Suckling said.

"So I've just been trying to get in the gym and lift big, and I've noticed that it's starting to help a bit in games already."