Australian Football

One of several excellent small men to grace the Carlton colours in the 1970s and 1980s, Alex Marcou boasted exceptional pace, excellent ball handling skills and liked to kick a goal. He joined the Blues from VAFA club Thomastown and gradually made his way up through the ranks. He won a reserve grade best and fairest in 1978 and made his senior debut the following year in a round three clash with Essendon. At the end of his debut season he started on the interchange bench as Carlton withstood the grand final challenge of Collingwood, winning a thriller by five points.

The 1981 and 1982 seasons brought further premierships, with Marcou listed high among the best players in both grand finals, against Collingwood in the former year and Richmond in the latter. The 1983 season brought Marcou’s first and only state of origin appearance as he played in Victoria’s 56 point loss to South Australia in Adelaide.

During the middle of the decade Marcou suffered a succession of injuries, which limited his appearances. When, in 1986, Blues secretary Ian Collins told him frankly that he could no longer be guaranteed a place in the side, he sought and was granted a clearance to St Kilda where he performed solidly in 1987 before being slowed down by injury the following year. Finally, after falling out with Saints coach Darrel Baldock, he opted to call time on a career which had seen him play 134 VFL games and kick 148 goals for the Blues and register 24 games and 17 goals for St Kilda. He rounded off his playing career with nine appearances and 11 goals for VFA side Springvale in 1989.

In 2006 Alex Marcou was inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame.

Author - John Devaney