Carlton footballer Heath Scotland escaped conviction on an assault charge after telling the court that it would ruin his chances of becoming a firefighter.

But the Metropolitan Fire Brigade said today that he wouldn't qualify for the job anyway.

And earlier today, it was revealed that Scotland escaped a conviction for assault six years ago after using the same excuse heard in court yesterday — that he wanted to become a firefighter.

In May 2005, the Blues midfielder was charged with assault and recklessly causing injury after he allegedly struck a woman on the face at the Next Blue nightclub in Melbourne. Scotland had had a brief relationship with the woman.