Toast Welcome to St Kilda Jonathon Marsh

Remove this Banner Ad

D

DGontheQT

Club Legend
Veteran Saints Pledge Contributor
Oct 25, 2015
1,210
2,789
AFL Club
St Kilda
With Jonathon Marsh possibly joining us , I seem to have many questions regarding our list , and what we can and can't do , and the general state of the list. Our key defenders certainly shape as an interesting bunch , with a pecking order yet to be determined. Surely Marsh couldn't play round 1 ?
 
funny you say KPD because his last few years hes played his best footy as a big inside mid. maybe thats why we also got hin
 

Log in to remove this ad.

After two years, ex-Pie 'desperate' for return to the big time
Callum Twomey
Nov 1, 2018 10:28AM

FORMER Collingwood defender Jonathon Marsh says he is desperate for a return to the AFL, two years after quitting the game as he battled mental health issues.

The athletic and quick backman retired at the end of 2016 when his trade request to a West Australian club fell through. He had a year to run on his contract with the Pies.

However, after two seasons back with East Fremantle in the WAFL, the 23-year-old is searching for a second chance and will nominate for next month's NAB AFL Draft.

"I'm 110 per cent in. I'm fully committed. That's why I've been doing the work when nobody's watching because I'm so desperate for that second chance. I'm that keen for it that it's quite remarkable," Marsh said.

Marsh far from regrets his call to leave Collingwood and depart the AFL scene. He says it was a call he had been contemplating for months before he pulled the pin on a promising career in the black and white that had seen him play 15 games as a raw but powerful tall backman.

"It wore me down and caught me off guard because I wasn't prepared for it and I didn't really manage it well. By the time [the mental health issue] really clicked into gear I was thinking 'I can't be here'," he said.

"Not because of Melbourne or playing at Collingwood, because I was enjoying my time there, but I was actually quite scared about my wellbeing. I knew my support systems were back in Perth and that to get better I probably needed to be surrounded by family and friends.

"It wasn't a negative decision, I'm actually quite proud of it to be honest. I wouldn't change it."

Marsh first visited a sports psychologist in the middle of his second AFL season, 2015, before then meeting a clinical psychologist. He realised he wasn't unhappy about his football but felt himself "shutting down" behind the scenes.

In his third season, despite playing 10 games that year, he started to withdraw from teammates.

"I was living by myself in Melbourne. I felt extremely lonely and I knew that I needed to get out and be social with my friends and my teammates. I was surrounded by them but I just couldn't do that,' he said.

"I knew I had to but I just didn’t want to. That was quite upsetting for me because the boys would be saying to come around and watch TV or come for lunch or for a barbeque, and I couldn't think of anything worse. I'd lock myself in my one-bedroom apartment and seek some solitude. Everyone knows that you do that and it's not going to help."

Even during the trade period, when he was waiting to see if the Pies could facilitate his request to get back to Perth, he doubted whether he even wanted to continue his career. He told Collingwood and his family of his intention to end his career and took up a course in primary school teaching.

Marsh, whose older brother Harry was recently delisted by Sydney, went back to East Fremantle, the club he was drafted from, and spent his first season back there playing in the midfield. Marsh gradually felt a little brighter each day, and he visited his psychologist weekly, and then fortnightly.

About halfway through 2017, his psychologist said she thought it was time Marsh ended the sessions as she thought he had worked through his issues. This year he settled back into his role deep in defence and relished it.

"That second half of last year I didn't think the love for the game would come back as quickly as it did. It multiplied this year to be even stronger than before I got drafted. It caught me a bit by surprise, it's been fantastic," he said.

"I'm absolutely keen for another shot. The work that I've done personally in the two years I've been out of the system has been very valuable for me."

Marsh said he is going to move to Melbourne with his girlfriend at the end of the year as she completes her master's degree at university, so quashed any concerns clubs could have about his ability to move.

"It's not like that fear of homesickness and the lure of WA is going to keep me away from an AFL lifeline if it's thrown my way because I'm already prepared to move," he said.
 
Why arent we recruiting MITCH BROWN? he is fit as, known quality afl player who by all reports just had possibly the greatest vafa domination of all time. He would fit right in like a glove. Play any position. waste.
 
RetroRandy66 said:
Why arent we recruiting MITCH BROWN? he is fit as, known quality afl player who by all reports just had possibly the greatest vafa domination of all time. He would fit right in like a glove. Play any position. waste.
Click to expand...
Maybe because hes on the Bombers list????
 
Sounds like a good get for us. Can fill a role down back to cover injuries and with the uncertainty over Robbo's future. Can also be that big bodied mid we crave.

He's already proven in his time at the pies that he's good enough. Hopefully he hits the ground running.

Jonathon Marsh is with St Kilda http://m.saints.com.au/news/2019-03-14/jonathon-marsh-is-with-st-kilda.mobileapp



Any volunteers to be his advocate?
 
^^^

Watching that player of the week clip i saw he beat Pav in a one on one and i thought "wow this kid can play"..... but then when I also saw he also beat Chris Mayne i nearly wet my pants with excitement!

I mean, Pav was OK...... but CHRIS FREAKIN MAYNE!!!!!!

:moustache:
 
Last edited:

(Log in to remove this ad.)

triggering bro said:
Loved his interview. Player with Browny, perhaps a nice little recommendation to the recruitment staff from Nate Dogg.
Click to expand...
Hadn't thought of that but could well be the case.
Highlights look pretty good to me.
Video showed passion & determination for the game and contest. Another hard nut with a bit of personality.
 
We're very lucky to have picked him up given tomorrow is the last day clubs can sign recruits through the SSP.

I think he may play a couple of games actually. Obviously ready to go.
 
If his head is in the right place this time around, you guys will have gotten a steal. His kicking is a little suspect, but his athleticism is second to none, and his speed is ridiculous when he puts the afterburners on, especially for a KPP.

He has great on-field leadership too. He was the defensive general of the Pies VFL team before he started playing regular senior footy. I would have welcomed him back with open arms to the Pies. Much better player than that coke head Murray.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Hubnester
Votes Round 6, 2024: St Kilda v Western Bulldogs
Replies
13
Views
401
The Punter
The Punter
Hubnester
Autopsy Round 6, 2024: St Kilda v Western Bulldogs
33 34 35 36 37
Replies
911
Views
21K
Brian Oblivion
Brian Oblivion
Hubnester
  • Locked
Game Day Round 6, 2024: St Kilda v Western Bulldogs - Marvel Stadium, Thursday 18 April, 7.30pm AEST
33 34 35 36 37
Replies
902
Views
18K
Hubnester
Hubnester
maanco
Analysis St Kilda - List Analysis 2023
2 3 4 5
Replies
103
Views
7K
StCicatriz
StCicatriz
StFly
Mod. Notice Welcome to newest Spec Mod - Mat Mann
Replies
1
Views
64
ScrappyDo
ScrappyDo
George
Toast Welcome to St.Kilda - ARIE SCHOENMAKER!
2 3 4 5
Replies
112
Views
12K
Murraj1966
Murraj1966
George
Toast Welcome to St.Kilda - RILEY BONNER!
2
Replies
46
Views
5K
SteeleSaints
SteeleSaints

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top