Gary Malarkey
| Gary Malarkey | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Gary Robert Malarkey | ||
| Date of birth | 23 May 1953 | ||
| Place of birth | Armadale, Western Australia | ||
| Original team(s) | Trinity College, Perth | ||
| Position(s) | Full Back | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1971–1976 1977–1986 1987–1988 |
East Perth Geelong Geelong West |
101 (29) 172 (0) |
|
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| 1973–1983 | Western Australia | 8 (0) | |
| 1979–1981 | Victoria | 2 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1988.
|
|||
| Career highlights | |||
|
|||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Gary Robert Malarkey (born 23 May 1953) is a former Australian rules footballer, who represented East Perth (WAFL), Geelong (VFL/AFL), Geelong West (VFA), Western Australia, and Victoria.
A list of regular opponents that included Hudson, Quinlan, Templeton, Blight and Roach would daunt most defenders but for the hard working and dedicated Gary Malarkey it was all in a day’s work. An All Australian and a Victorian as well as West Australian representative prior to state of origin football, Malarkey was recognised as the most effective full back of his era.
Malarkey was born at Armadale, but learnt the Australian game at Trinity College and joined East Perth at the age of 18. Although he debuted on a half forward flank in the second game of 1971, he could only notch 2 senior games that year. Tried in defence the following year, he quickly demonstrated his outstanding potential by appearing in all 23 games and lined up at full back in the Royals 1972 premiership team.
Although not tall for a key defender (185 cm) Malarkey was extremely strong and he showed an early propensity for close checking defence, revelling in tough man on man duels. He had excellent anticipation and good pace over the first 20 meters as well as being a strong mark and superb kick, often challenging the centre circle with his punts from the full back line. In his second full season (1973) Malarkey captured East Perth's fairest and best trophy and represented WA against South Australia. He was signed by Geelong but East Perth imposed a minimum service requirement of 100 league games before a clearance would be granted. He thus stayed for a further 3 years before finally crossing to the Cats in 1977.
...
Wikipedia