Australian Football

Having arrived at Subiaco from Geraldton, Ken Marshall made his senior league debut in 1978, and went on to play for the Maroons for five seasons. Powerful and athletic, he certainly had the potential to be a leading light in a team generally lacking in star quality, but he lacked consistency, and as a result spent almost as much time playing for the seconds as the seniors. In 1983 he transferred to Swan Districts but after making a blistering start he again became blighted by inconsistency, and missed that season's finals series, from which Swans emerged triumphant. He fared somewhat better in 1984, and his mercurial marking and keen goal sense were very much to the fore as Swans again went top, with Marshall contributing a couple of goals to the 20.18 (138) to 15.12 (102) Grand Final defeat of East Fremantle

A serious ankle injury sustained in the build up to the 1986 season finally put paid to Marshall's league career after 36 games and 73 goals for Swans, coming on top of 68 games and over 100 goals for the Lions. Most of his football was played as a permanent forward, although he was tried at centre half back, without noticeable success, during his final season at Subiaco.

Author - John Devaney