Former Central District defender Paul Marschall signs with Adelaide’s reserves side
ONE-time AFL prospect Paul Marschall has signed with Adelaide’s reserves — 18 months after walking away from Central District.
ONE-time AFL prospect Paul Marschall has signed with Adelaide’s reserves — 18 months after walking away from Central District.
Marschall, 21, was invited to the 2012 AFL draft combine and was considered a near certainty to be drafted on the back of a standout debut season.
But the defender turned his back on a career at the elite level in October that year.
He quit the Bulldogs to work in his family’s landscaping business, citing an unwillingness to commit to senior football.
After playing three games for South Gawler last season, Marschall was approached by the Crows and cleared to them last month.
Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie said last week Marschall was yet to train with the club because of work commitments.
“Paul’s an interesting one because at the moment the SANFL full-time environment doesn’t fit his working needs,” Younie said.
“We’ve given him that opportunity but we don’t know how long it’s going to be before he’s fit enough to play in the SANFL.”
It is understood Marschall will only need to train once a week with the Crows’ top-up players.
Adelaide’s football manager Phil Harper said the club’s development system suited Marschall.
“When Paul doesn’t play for us, he can play for South Gawler,” Harper said.
“We know he’s an AFL standard player and if the arrangement works for him and us we see it as a positive in getting a good player back in the system.
“If his circumstances change and he can fully commit again then he could go back to Centrals with our blessing.”
Bulldogs chief executive Kris Grant said the club would love to have Marschall but not if he could only train once a week.
“If we had all of our players doing that, we’d be all over the shop,” Grant said.
“We base our whole regime on disciplines, team and everybody being in it together.”
Marschall declined to comment.