He showed some promise in his years at Collingwood, but discipline problems led to him being delisted in March, 1997. Even after his departure he continued to make the headlines when he was accused of giving the Magpies' "play-book" to Carlton, but he strenuously denied the allegations. Hotton was one of the real surprises of the 1999 national draft when Carlton plucked him from the obscurity of suburban football. He had been given a couple of games in the reserves in 1999 and in one match he hauled down over a dozen marks. Carlton's gamble in selecting the former Magpie paid off, with Hotton playing in every game for the Blues and proving himself an invaluable key position player at either end of the ground with his strong marking and could take the occasional run in the ruck. His courage and attack on the ball made him a handy member of the team.