He made his debut in 2005 against St Kilda, kicking a goal in what was Matthew Lloyd's 200th AFL game.
[2] His first three seasons were limited by hip and knee injuries before he cemented his place in the Essendon starting team, often as a small, lock-down defender or defensive midfielder.
[4] He was not selected in the 2012 AFL Draft, but was recruited by the Port Adelaide Magpies in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).
He was suspended for two years which, with backdating, ended in November 2016; as a result, he served approximately fourteen months of his suspension and missed the entire 2016 season, during which time he had intended to coach Nuriootpa Rovers Football Club in the Barossa Light & Gawler Football League.
[7] Slattery completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Melbourne in late 2010, and also undertook a short course in Wine Appreciation and Making at Armadale Cellars in 2011.