Geelong great Matthew Scarlett has opened up about his dislike for Nick Maxwell, declaring the Collingwood captain was not respected by the Cats and was "highly overrated".

Scarlett generally shunned the media through his distinguished career, which ended after last year's elimination final loss to Fremantle, but he has used his autobiography to provide insight into several on and off-field moments that culminated in the Cats bagging three premierships in five years.

Matthew Scarlett: 'None of our players had any respect for Maxwell'. Credit:Joe Armao

His remarks about Maxwell were particularly cutting, with Maxwell's verbal spray of the Cats at three-quarter-time in the 2010 preliminary final embedded in his memory.

The Magpies led by 10 goals at the final change, and would go on to win by 41 points in what was to be the final match at Geelong for coach Mark Thompson and Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett.