Marlon Motlop facts for kids

Marlon Motlop, born on April 17, 1990, is an Indigenous Australian who used to play Australian rules football. He is also a talented musician known as Marlon.

Marlon played for the Port Adelaide Football Club from 2008 to 2011. This was in the Australian Football League (AFL), which is Australia's top professional football league. After his time in the AFL, Marlon played for different clubs in state leagues. A big highlight was winning a championship with the Glenelg Football Club in 2019.

Since 2020, Marlon has been building a career as a musician. He performs under the name Marlon. He also performed at WOMADelaide as part of a musical duo called Mrln x Rkm. Besides music, Marlon helps with his cousin Daniel Motlop's business. This business focuses on native Australian foods.

Marlon's Early Life and Family Connections

Marlon Motlop has Aboriginal Australian heritage. His father is from the Larrakia people. His mother is from the Kungarakany people. He also has Torres Strait Islander heritage from Thursday Island.

His father wanted him to learn to play the guitar. This was around the same time he was starting his junior football career. Marlon would write songs with his cousins. These cousins, Daniel, Shannon, and Steven, also became AFL footballers.

Marlon's Football Journey

Marlon first played for the Wanderers Football Club in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL). AFL talent scouts noticed him early on. He won the Allan McLean best-and-fairest medal. This was at the 2006 AFL Under-16 Division Two Championships. Port Adelaide chose Marlon in the 2007 AFL Draft. He was their second pick, number 28 overall.

Marlon played his first AFL game in 2008 against the Melbourne Football Club. He helped his team win by 78 points. The next week, he kicked his first AFL goal. He also had 16 disposals in a big win against North Melbourne. He didn't play more games in 2008.

He returned in 2009 for a game against the Sydney Swans. Later that season, he kicked one goal against the Fremantle Dockers. His final AFL match was against the Western Bulldogs. When he wasn't playing in the AFL, Marlon played for West Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).

Port Adelaide removed Marlon from their team at the end of the 2011 AFL season. He then moved to the West Australian Football League (WAFL). He joined Swan Districts in 2012. There, he won the club's best and fairest award. In 2013, Marlon moved to Peel Thunder. He also won their best and fairest award that year.

After two years in the WAFL, Marlon played state representative football in 2013. He played against Victoria and had 28 disposals. He then went back to the SANFL. He played 79 league games for North Adelaide. He also represented South Australia in 2015, getting 24 disposals.

While at North Adelaide, Marlon finished fourth in the club's best and fairest in 2014. He then won their Club Champion award in 2015. In 2018, Marlon signed with Glenelg. He played there until the end of the 2021 season.

Marlon's Music Career

During his last year of playing football in the SANFL, Marlon started his music career. He formed a band with his teammate Rulla Kelly-Mansell. Their musical duo, called Mrln x Rkm, performed at WOMADelaide in March 2021. They opened for famous bands like Midnight Oil and Vika and Linda. Their performance was very popular and received a great review. They released their first song, "Black Swan," in June 2021. The duo also performs as Marlon x Rulla.

Marlon has also performed at the Bass In the Grass Festival. He also played at the AFL's Sir Doug Nicholls Round in front of over 30,000 fans. Marlon released three songs in 2021. He also worked with Urthboy on his album Jangle Bells. Their song "Balmy Christmas Eve" came out in December 2021.

Marlon is also featured on the 3% song "Blak Australia Policy." This song is on their album, Kill the Dead.

Marlon's Singles

Marlon's Bush Food Business

Marlon is also involved in a business with his cousin Daniel Motlop. It's called Something Wild. This business sells native Australian foods. It is located in the Barossa Valley.