Mark Naley
Encyclopedia
Mark Naley is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton
in the AFL
and South Adelaide
in the SANFL
.
, going on to make his league debut in 1980. He was a member of the State Youth Team that same year. While at South Adelaide, he earned All Australian selection for his performances in the 1986 and 1987 Interstate Carnivals
, the latter also saw him win the Tassie Medal
. He represented his state from 1981 to 1989, and again in 1991 and 1992.
Naley moved from the state based South Australian National Football League to Australia-wide Australian Football League when he joined Carlton
in 1987. He was a regular member of the side all season, finishing the year with a premiership. He also received 12 Brownlow Medal votes for the year, finishing equal 10th. In 1990 he suffered from hamstring problems and only managed 8 games, as a result he decided to return to his original club South Adelaide
. After returning to play at South Adelaide, he won the 1991 Magarey Medal
before going on to retire in 1993.
In 2002, Naley was inducted to the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
and South Adelaide
South Adelaide Football Club
South Adelaide Football Club competes in the South Australian National Football League . Known as the Panthers, their home ground is Hickinbotham Oval , located in Noarlunga Downs in the southern suburbs of Adelaide....
in the SANFL
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
.
Heritage
Growing up, Naley had been told that his paternal grandfather was of Afghan descent. This was to explain away the fact that some family members had darker than usual complexions. In recent years it has come to light that in fact, Naley's grandfather, Charles Gordon Naley, was Aboriginal. Charles had served with the Australian army at Gallipoli. Wounded and and shipped to England for treatment, Charles eventually married his English nurse, Cecilia.Football Career
Coming from Sacred Heart College, Naley joined the junior grades of South AdelaideSouth Adelaide Football Club
South Adelaide Football Club competes in the South Australian National Football League . Known as the Panthers, their home ground is Hickinbotham Oval , located in Noarlunga Downs in the southern suburbs of Adelaide....
, going on to make his league debut in 1980. He was a member of the State Youth Team that same year. While at South Adelaide, he earned All Australian selection for his performances in the 1986 and 1987 Interstate Carnivals
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
, the latter also saw him win the Tassie Medal
Tassie Medal
The Tassie Medal was awarded to the outstanding player at each Australian rules football Interstate Carnival or Australian interstate championship series held between 1937 and 1988 with the exception of the 1975 knock-out series....
. He represented his state from 1981 to 1989, and again in 1991 and 1992.
Naley moved from the state based South Australian National Football League to Australia-wide Australian Football League when he joined Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in 1987. He was a regular member of the side all season, finishing the year with a premiership. He also received 12 Brownlow Medal votes for the year, finishing equal 10th. In 1990 he suffered from hamstring problems and only managed 8 games, as a result he decided to return to his original club South Adelaide
South Adelaide Football Club
South Adelaide Football Club competes in the South Australian National Football League . Known as the Panthers, their home ground is Hickinbotham Oval , located in Noarlunga Downs in the southern suburbs of Adelaide....
. After returning to play at South Adelaide, he won the 1991 Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
before going on to retire in 1993.
In 2002, Naley was inducted to the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.