Gary Malarkey facts for kids

Gary Robert Malarkey (born 23 May 1953) is a famous former Australian rules footballer. He played for several teams during his career. These included East Perth in the WAFL. He also played for Geelong in the VFL/AFL.

Gary was known as a very tough and dedicated player. He was a full back, which means his job was to stop the opposing team from scoring. He often played against some of the best forwards of his time. Many people thought he was the most effective full back of his era. He even represented both Western Australia and Victoria in special state games.

Early Career at East Perth

Gary Malarkey was born in Armadale. He learned to play Australian rules football at Trinity College, Perth. He joined the East Perth Football Club when he was 18 years old.

He played his first senior game in 1971. The next year, he became a key player in defence. He played in all 23 games and helped East Perth win the 1972 premiership. This was a big achievement early in his career.

Even though he wasn't super tall for a defender (185 cm), Gary was very strong. He was great at closely guarding his opponents. He had excellent anticipation, meaning he could guess where the ball was going. He was also fast over short distances. Gary was a strong mark and could kick the ball very far from the back line.

In 1973, his second full season, Gary won East Perth's "fairest and best" award. This award goes to the team's top player. He also played for Western Australia against South Australia. The Geelong club wanted to sign him, but East Perth made him play 100 games first. So, he stayed for three more years before joining Geelong in 1977.

Playing for Geelong

When Gary joined Geelong, he quickly became a star. He played in his usual full back position. Many people across Australia saw him as the best full back for the next 10 seasons. He was incredibly consistent in one of the hardest roles in Victorian football.

In 1983, a historian named Col Hutchinson wrote about Gary. He said Gary was "one of Geelong's most effective full backs." He also called him "probably the strongest defender to ever represent the team." Gary's focus, strong marking, and courage made it hard for opposing forwards to score.

While at Geelong, Gary continued to represent Western Australia in "State of Origin" games. These games featured the best players from different states. He was chosen for the "All-Australian" team in 1979. This team features the best players from all over Australia. In 1983, he was also named in the VFL Team of the Year. He was runner-up for Geelong's "fairest and best" award that same year.

Gary decided to return to Perth to finish his career. Geelong showed how much they appreciated him by giving him life membership. This was special because he was seven games short of the usual number needed. However, he couldn't agree on terms with any WAFL club. So, Gary returned to Geelong and continued playing. His long career ended when he needed shoulder surgery. He later played and coached for the Geelong West club.

Gary wore the famous number 5 jersey for Geelong. This number was also worn by another legend, Graham "Polly" Farmer. After a short break, Gary returned and wore the number 6 jersey until he retired in 1986.

Life After Football

After his football career, Gary Malarkey moved back to Western Australia. He now works at Trinity College, Perth, the school where he first learned to play football. His students can learn from his story. It shows that hard work and dedication can lead to great achievements.

Gary was inducted into the WA Football Hall of Fame in 2010. This is a special honour for players who have made a big impact on football in Western Australia. He also helps run the Indigenous program at Trinity College.