It’s not all black and white for Tiger Marlon Motlop who is trapped in a Magpie cage at Alberton
Tiger Marlon Motlop can’t break free of the Port Adelaide influence at work as he prepares for the SANFL second semi-final and a spot in the big dance.
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Marlon Motlop hasn’t been able to hide from it.
As much as he has tried to just go about his business and put Sunday’s SANFL second semi-final between Glenelg and Port Adelaide to the back of his mind until game day, the reminders of what’s at stake have been around him all week.
A former Power player — he played five AFL games in four years on the list from 2008-11 — Motlop works full-time at the club’s Alberton headquarters as Aboriginal Programs co-ordinator.
And as the Tigers and Magpies prepare to go head-to-head in a league final for the first time since the 1993 qualifying final, Port players and staff members have let Motlop know he is working in enemy territory.
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“I’ve copped a fair bit of banter during the week,’’ said Motlop, who is in his second year at Glenelg after playing at various clubs when he finished at the Power, including Swan Districts and Peel Thunder in the WAFL and North Adelaide in the SANFL.
“I haven’t said too much and have just tried to keep things under wraps, stay busy and keep the week as normal as possible.
“But I’ve had staff members hang Port Adelaide guernseys and premiership cups around my desk.
“They have let me know about it, but it’s all been in good fun.’’
One of the Tigers’ prime midfield movers, Motlop, 29, works alongside Magpies captain Cam Sutcliffe, who was selected by the Power in this year’s mid-season rookie draft and is involved with the club’s Intercultural Program.
“I’m outnumbered in the office and a few of the indigenous boys, Joel Garner, Aidyn Johnson and Tobin Cox, who are all named to play, have kept popping over for a chat about the game,’’ he said.
“There’s been some lighthearted banter but I’ve tried not to engage in it too much and am just looking forward to running onto Adelaide Oval with my Glenelg teammates.’’
Sutcliffe, who played five games for the Power this year after joining the Magpies as their marquee signing at the start of the season following 104 AFL games in seven years with Fremantle, said having an “enemy’’ in the camp had been interesting.
But he said no trade secrets had been discussed.
“The boys have given Marlon a bit of stick during the week but no doubt things will become pretty serious once the ball is bounced,’’ said 27-year-old Sutcliffe, who is likely to be given a run-with role on one of the Tigers’ playmakers and could target his work colleague.
“He’s been playing some very good footy and is one of the guys we’ll have to stop if we're going to advance straight to the grand final.
“Glenelg has clearly been the best team in the competition this year and we know that if any aspect of our game is off, like our execution inside 50 against the Crows last week, then they’ll probably jump us.
“But we’re looking forward to the opportunity of playing for a spot in the grand final.’’