Australian Football

Boasting great pace, skill and balance, all laced with a touch of venom, Ian Marsh was a wingman par excellence whose career in top level football was cruelly curtailed by illness.

He commenced his senior football with NTFA side North Launceston where he played roughly 50 games between 1973 and 1975, highlighted by winning a competition best and fairest win in his last season. The 1976 season saw him at Essendon where, after a slow start, he developed into a key player, in the process earning a reputation as one of the most eye-catching footballers in the game.

By the end of the 1980 season Marsh had played 68 VFL games and booted 16 goals as well as representing Tasmania in both the 1979 and 1980 state of origin carnivals. Prior to the start of the 1981 season, however, he became unwell and was diagnosed with a serious heart condition, which eventually necessitated open heart surgery. He did make an attempt to re-ignite his career but managed only a handful of reserves games before retiring from top level football. Between late 1981 and 1984 he played for Essendon League side Aberfeldie before commencing the 1985 season with South Bendigo. However, a recurrence of his heart problems brought the final curtain down on his career.

Author - John Devaney