{xtypo_dropcap}W{/xtypo_dropcap}hen Aaron Marley won the Pike medal for best and fairest playing for premiers Mines Rovers in the 1997 SWFL grand final, it was a big achievement for someone who’d only been playing serious football for five years.

Marley hadn’t pulled on a pair of boots between the ages of twelve and seventeen, preferring hockey, at which he was good enough to represent Western Australia three times at junior level.

“I would have stayed with hockey if it hadn’t been for all my mates playing footy,” he said.

And there was even more silverware to come.

Former East Perth captain Russell Sparks was coach of Mines Rovers, and he was quick to organise a visit from Wayne Otway of the Royals. Marley was rushed straight into the East Perth line up for round one of the 1998 season, and was one of his side’s best against West Perth. Marley’s hard at it style of football, backed by safe and reliable marking with the ability to read the play saw him take the football scene by storm, and he went on to win the F D Book Trophy for fairest and best in his first year, beating Peter Miller. “Peter missed a few games,” the modest Marley commented.

East Perth were beaten in the first semi final by Subiaco that year, and those at the club looking for improvement the following season were dealt a blow when Marley returned to Collie.

“I wanted to go back home,” he said, and the dismay of the Royal fans was matched by the delight of those at Mines Rovers, as Marley enjoyed a sizzling season in SWFL ranks, taking out the Hayward Medal as Association fairest and best, but Mines Rovers were unable to repeat their success of 97.

At the end of the 1999 season East Perth coach Tony Micale rang Aaron and talked him into making a return to Perth Oval, the team having finished out of the four that season. Marley showed he’d lost none of his 1997 form, as the club went on to win their first premiership since 1977. His medal winning run continued, figuring in a triple tie with David Swan and Rod Wheatley for the Book Medal.

Marley’s WAFL form was rewarded in 2000 with selection in the State side that played South Australia in Adelaide. Playing in a back pocket, he had a negating role, which he performed well in a side that was down by eleven points at three quarter time but ended up losing by forty two. 

After another premiership year in 2001 the club had a special reason to win the  2002 flag.

The AFL allocations had been changed, and many of the West Coast players went to other clubs. “This was the one we wanted to win to silence those who claimed we were winning on the Eagles backs, ignoring the fact that home grown East Perth players dominated club fairest and best voting,” he said.  “It was a driving force for us.”

When the Royals defeated West Perth for the premiership by ten goals it was Marley who was awarded East Perth’s McAullay Medal as best in the grand final, despite Ryan Turnbull winning the Simpson.

Aaron Marley is effusive about the time he had at East Perth.

“The club, led by Bronte Howson and Tony Micale were fantastic. Bronte was helpful and supportive, Tony a top coach, and the whole organisation so professional it was a terrific time, and the triple flags topped it off.”

The twenty eight year old Marley bowed out of the WAFL for the last time after the 2002 flag.

Work took him to Kalgoorlie, where he was appointed playing coach of Boulder. He took the club to a losing grand final, after a hamstring injury wreaked havoc with his playing season. Back at Collie in 2004, he captained the now combined Collie side, renamed the Eagles, this time under Kevan Sparks instead of brother Russell, where he was part of back to back flags.

Continual hamstring trouble forced Marley to retire from the playing arena in 2007, but he was back as assistant coach to Russell Sparks, who had returned to the coaching seat, and the pair took the club to a semi final.

An auto electrician by trade, Aaron is now a production operator in the mining industry, and is  married to Jasmin. He told us that David Sierakowski, Paul Medhurst and Des Headland were the hardest to beat while David Swan was the best he played with. “I did play one game with Chris Judd, the only one he played at East Perth, and we all knew he wouldn’t be back.”

Aaron told us about the day at Collie that a dog ran out onto the ground. “One of the players kicked the dog hoping it would send it home, and the ump promptly handed him a red card.”

Aaron Marley was a great player at East Perth, key part of three premierships, double FD Book Medal winner, McAullay Medal winner, State player, and favourite with fans in a seventy six game career at East Perth. Add to that a Hayward Medal and it says it all.

Not sure about the silver supply at Perth Mint, but if they run short, there’s plenty at the Marleys.