Steve Marsh
Encyclopedia
Steve Marsh is a former Australian rules football
er in the (then) West Australian National Football League
(WANFL). Marsh was regarded as one of the finest rovers of his era. Quick off the mark, elusive, courageous, a leader and highly skilled by hand or foot - he was famed for his drop kick
s to position.
Born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Marsh first played with the Kalgoorlie Railways Football Club, kicking four goals in their 1943 premiership win. He was on leave from the Air Force at the time. He then arrived in Fremantle
before the 1945 WANFL season and upon arriving at Fremantle Oval
, he was invited into the South Fremantle Football Club
rooms first, so chose to play for them, rather than East Fremantle
who also trained at the same oval. The commonly recited myth that he accidentally entering the wrong rooms is incorrect.
Here he played 226 games over 12 seasons, which included being a player in six premiership teams (1947, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1953 and 1954) from nine grand final appearances. South Fremantle made the finals in all the twelve years he played with the club. He won the Simpson Medal
as best on ground in the club's 1953 grand final win. He was the winner of the 1952 Sandover Medal
as the league's best and fairest
and won the South Fremantle Fairest and Best award four times (1950, 1951, 1952, 1956). He was also a member of the inaugural All-Australian Team
in 1953 after the Adelaide carnival
.
Somewhat controversially he moved to East Fremantle Football Club
in 1957 as Captain/Coach for two years on the then unheard of fee of £300
. He was captain/coach of East Fremantle's 1957 premiership win. He played 39 games for East Fremantle and in 1960, having amassed a career total of 284 games, he retired as a player.
Marsh played 19 games for Western Australia, and was captain of the side in 1954.
Marsh was known as an inspirational player whose courage in a contest would often motivate his teammates. His impact as a player and motivator was reinforced emphatically in 1957 with the new captain-coach leading the East Fremantle Sharks to their first flag in 11 years on his way to receiving a premiership pay 'bonus', while his former club South Fremantle missed the finals for the first time since the end of World War II.
His vocal playing characteristic however may have cost him some personal glory. During his career Marsh only won a single Sandover Medal, but fellow Hall of Fame member John Todd
opined that Marsh's fondness for backchatting umpires probably cost him a couple of medals. Marsh himself is on record as stating that he did not lead the South Fremantle Bulldogs during their golden era because "I had too big a mouth to be captain".
Steve Marsh was made an inaugural member of the Fremantle Football Club
created Fremantle Football Hall of Legends
in 1995. In 2005 he was elevated to Legend Status in the West Australian Football Hall of Fame
. He is also a member of the Western Australian Institute of Sport
Hall of Champions.
The Steve Marsh Entrance to Subiaco Oval
is named in his honour.
In June 2006 he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
in the player category.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the (then) West Australian National Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WANFL). Marsh was regarded as one of the finest rovers of his era. Quick off the mark, elusive, courageous, a leader and highly skilled by hand or foot - he was famed for his drop kick
Drop kick
A drop kick is a type of kick in various codes of football. It involves a player dropping the ball and then kicking it when it bounces off the ground. It contrasts to a punt, wherein the player kicks the ball without letting it hit the ground first....
s to position.
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Kalgoorlie, known as Kalgoorlie-Boulder, is a town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, and is located east-northeast of state capital Perth at the end of the Great Eastern Highway...
Marsh first played with the Kalgoorlie Railways Football Club, kicking four goals in their 1943 premiership win. He was on leave from the Air Force at the time. He then arrived in Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
before the 1945 WANFL season and upon arriving at Fremantle Oval
Fremantle Oval
Fremantle Oval is a stadium in the centre of Fremantle, Western Australia. It currently has a capacity of 17,500 with terracing and a members area holding 750. Fremantle Oval was originally used for cricket, but in 1895 hosted its first game of Australian rules football...
, he was invited into the South Fremantle Football Club
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
rooms first, so chose to play for them, rather than East Fremantle
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
who also trained at the same oval. The commonly recited myth that he accidentally entering the wrong rooms is incorrect.
Here he played 226 games over 12 seasons, which included being a player in six premiership teams (1947, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1953 and 1954) from nine grand final appearances. South Fremantle made the finals in all the twelve years he played with the club. He won the Simpson Medal
Simpson Medal
The Simpson Medal, a prize for Australian rules football, has been donated by Dr. Fred Simpson and family since 1945. It is awarded to the best player in a WAFL Grand Final and the best player in an interstate game involving Western Australia....
as best on ground in the club's 1953 grand final win. He was the winner of the 1952 Sandover Medal
Sandover Medal
The Sandover Medal is an Australian rules football award, given annually since 1921 to the fairest and best player in the West Australian Football League...
as the league's best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
and won the South Fremantle Fairest and Best award four times (1950, 1951, 1952, 1956). He was also a member of the inaugural All-Australian Team
All-Australian Team
The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
in 1953 after the Adelaide carnival
1953 Adelaide Carnival
The 1953 Adelaide Carnival was the 12th edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition...
.
Somewhat controversially he moved to East Fremantle Football Club
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
in 1957 as Captain/Coach for two years on the then unheard of fee of £300
Australian pound
The pound was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 13 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. It was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence.- Earlier Australian currencies :...
. He was captain/coach of East Fremantle's 1957 premiership win. He played 39 games for East Fremantle and in 1960, having amassed a career total of 284 games, he retired as a player.
Marsh played 19 games for Western Australia, and was captain of the side in 1954.
Marsh was known as an inspirational player whose courage in a contest would often motivate his teammates. His impact as a player and motivator was reinforced emphatically in 1957 with the new captain-coach leading the East Fremantle Sharks to their first flag in 11 years on his way to receiving a premiership pay 'bonus', while his former club South Fremantle missed the finals for the first time since the end of World War II.
His vocal playing characteristic however may have cost him some personal glory. During his career Marsh only won a single Sandover Medal, but fellow Hall of Fame member John Todd
John Todd (footballer)
John Todd is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. After becoming youngest ever winner of the Sandover Medal in his first year of senior football he suffered a serious knee injury, which affected his playing career...
opined that Marsh's fondness for backchatting umpires probably cost him a couple of medals. Marsh himself is on record as stating that he did not lead the South Fremantle Bulldogs during their golden era because "I had too big a mouth to be captain".
Career highlights
- 265 games (South Fremantle 226 games 448 goals; East Fremantle 39 games)
- 19 State games
- South Fremantle Fairest & Best 1950-1952, 1956
- South Fremantle premiership player 6 times (1947, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954)
- 1952 Sandover Medallist
- 1953 Simpson Medallist
- 1954 State Captain
- Captain/Coach East Fremantle 1957-1958
- East Fremantle Premiership 1957 (Captain/Coach)
- All Australian selection following 1953 carnival
Steve Marsh was made an inaugural member of the Fremantle Football Club
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
created Fremantle Football Hall of Legends
Fremantle Football Hall of Legends
The Fremantle Football Hall of Legends was inaugurated by the Fremantle Football Club in 1995, in recognition of the new Australian Football League team’s links with its home city’s football heritage. The inductees are nominated by the two clubs from the Fremantle area in the West Australian...
in 1995. In 2005 he was elevated to Legend Status in the West Australian Football Hall of Fame
West Australian Football Hall of Fame
The West Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to recognise and enshrine those who have made a significant contribution to Australian rules football in Western Australia...
. He is also a member of the Western Australian Institute of Sport
Western Australian Institute of Sport
The Western Australian Institute of Sport is an elite sports institute set up in 1983 by the Government of Western Australia to support athletes in Western Australia...
Hall of Champions.
The Steve Marsh Entrance to Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
is named in his honour.
In June 2006 he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in the player category.