Marley Williams

Marley Williams was born on July 22, 1993, in Albany, Western Australia. He began his football career with the Claremont Football Club in the WAFL before being recruited by the Collingwood Football Club in the 2012 Rookie Draft with pick #35. Williams made his debut in Round 9 of the 2012 AFL season against Adelaide. In his debut season, he played six games, contributing to the team primarily as a defender, before requiring a shoulder reconstruction. His contributions in 2012 included one goal and an average of 12.2 disposals per game.

Williams quickly established himself in the Collingwood lineup during the 2013 season, playing 16 games and cementing his role as a reliable defender. He demonstrated strong performance both in aerial contests and ground-level play, which led to him placing seventh in the club’s best and fairest award for the season. In 2014, he was presented with the number 26 guernsey, a significant gesture reflecting his growing importance to the team. Over his career with Collingwood from 2012 to 2016, Williams played 68 games, kicked 6 goals, and participated in 1 final. He averaged 17.7 disposals, 10.9 kicks, and 6.8 handballs per game, showcasing consistent defensive capabilities and ball distribution.

Following the 2016 season, Williams moved to the North Melbourne Football Club as part of a trade. He played for North Melbourne from 2017 to 2020, adding 57 games and 5 goals to his career total, bringing his cumulative AFL games to 125 with 11 goals. His contract with North Melbourne was extended until the end of the 2020 season, acknowledging his continued value to the team’s backline. Williams was delisted by North Melbourne at the conclusion of the 2020 AFL season. He was also a 2013 AFL Rising Star nominee, further highlighting his early potential and impact in the league.