Scott full of praise for Dockers skipper

Geelong coach Chris Scott has paid tribute to Matthew Pavlich in the build up to his 300th game saying he should be ranked among the elite of the competition and few players will ever achieve the feats that have made him great.

Pavlich will play his 300th game against the Cats on Saturday night. Scott worked as an assistant coach at Fremantle before joining Geelong and said Pavlich stood out as one of the game's greats.

"I think he has been under-rated by those on the eastern seaboard," Scott said.

"Over the years he's copped some criticism for missing some goals at crucial times. The people that say that have obviously not been watching when he's kicked the crucial ones.

"He has been an outstanding leader for that football club and at times got them over the line off his own boot. Anyone that doesn't rate him right up the top of the group of modern day players has a different opinion to me."

Pavlich will become the first player from either West Australian club to play 300 games.

A six-times best and fairest, Pavlich also has the remarkable honour of being chosen in six All-Australian teams while playing as a defender, midfielder and forward.

Scott played as a defender during his career at Brisbane and played on Pavlich. But his twin brother Brad also played on Pavlich in the midfield.

Scott said Pavlich had a record that would be tough to match.

"Some of the things that he's done are going to be difficult for anyone to replicate," Scott said.

"But it hasn't been through luck, it hasn't been through circumstance. He's obviously got extreme talent but he's got the work ethic to match."

Scott said he was thrilled that Pavlich finally got the chance to play in a grand final last year.

He said the fact no other WA-based player had managed 300 games showed Pavlich's class.