Marley Williams Biography

Following a disastrous 2020 campaign where the Kangaroos finished second-last on the ladder, North Melbourne begins a savage cull of its list with eleven players delisted.

Leadership group members Jamie Macmillan and Jasper Pittard are among them, while Majak Daw's incredible comeback from serious injuries sustained two years ago looks over.

Ben Jacobs, Paul Ahern, Mason Wood, Sam Durdin, Marley Williams, Joel Crocker, Lachie Hosie, and Tom Murphy round out the Kangaroos' delistings.

Marley Williams' first season at North Melbourne is over because of a persistent back injury.

"Over the past six weeks, we’ve tried numerous non-surgical treatments for Marley, but without the desired results," Kangaroos' general manager of football Cameron Joyce said.

"The last resort was and always has been surgery, but unfortunately we’ve run out of time to get Marley back before the end of the year and will now focus on getting him right for the 2018 pre-season.

"This will mean a likely procedure on his back, but first we’ve opted to get his shoulder repaired, which he’s been carrying since round seven. On medical advice, these operations can’t be conducted simultaneously."

Marley Williams' career-reviving switch to North Melbourne continues to pay dividends, with the zippy defender earning a one-year contract extension.

The former Magpie, who was at risk of being delisted by Collingwood last year before being traded for pick 105, is now tied to the Kangaroos until at least the end of 2019.

"I’ve loved everything about North and feel right at home at the club," Williams said.

"There’s a lot to like about this footy club - the players, the environment and what lies ahead - I’m really happy with the contract extension and owe North a hell of a lot.

"It’s a great show of faith to me by the club and some reward for the effort I have been putting in. I’m thrilled to be able to get an extra year.

"It’s been a fresh start and I’ve been able to play every game prior to hurting my back.

"The change of scenery has really helped with starting over and freshening up. I started back at the bottom and have tried to work my way back to the top."

Marley Williams is flourishing in the second coming of his career at North Melbourne, producing some of the most consistent football of his 78-game AFL career for North in 2017.

"Ever since day one it's just been so easy for me. The boys have been so welcoming," Williams said.

"It hasn't been that long. But I guess getting a trade and coming into a new football environment it's really matured me a lot and where I want to go with my football."

Jamie Macmillan says the addition of defender Marley Williams to North Melbourne's line-up should ensure small forwards don't dominate the Kangaroos.

"(Williams has) been adding a little bit of run and a little bit of drive. A lot of guys have spoken about our backline perhaps lacking that a little bit. He’s certainly bringing that to the table," Macmillan said.

"He adds another dimension. He can also lock down, which is something we’ve probably struggled with, just thinking back to the Adelaide final with Eddie Betts kicking five or six (goals).

"To be able to bring in a defender to perhaps take someone like that out of the game will be helpful."

Marley Williams says he is keen to bounce back in 2017 after being thrown a last-minute lifeline by North Melbourne during the NAB AFL Trade Period.

After finishing seventh in Collingwood's 2015 club champion award, Williams battled a foot injury early last season but was then dropped twice late in the campaign as the Pies missed finals, and the 23-year-old saw the writing on the wall.

"We had a pretty open conversation by the end of the year (about) me (going) in and out of the team and not being able to hold my spot," he said.

"A few of the younger boys were pushing me out, so I thought maybe a move would do me good and improve my football.

"I think in 2015 I held my own playing down in that backline but I was unlucky to be pushed out, injury didn't help, but it was a little bit disappointing."

Collingwood defender Marley Williams has been traded to North Melbourne for a bargain-basement pick – No.105 – in November's NAB AFL Draft.

"Marley is an exciting footballer and plays with real speed and flare," Kangaroos football manager Cameron Joyce said.

"We expect him to give us some great drive out of our back half and really look to take the game on as he's done throughout his time at Collingwood."

Marley Williams will be sidelined for up to a month after scans confirmed he suffered a midfoot sprain in Collingwood's loss to St Kilda.

"He's had a sprain in his foot, so he's injured a ligament there that'll be in a boot for two weeks," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.

"Then we'll see how it goes on the other side of it. We've played 12 defenders in the first three weeks so we're looking for a little bit of continuity."

After spending a week in the VFL following a 12-month suspended jail term for grievous bodily harm, Marley Williams is selected for the side to face Carlton in round 7.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says Marley Williams may return to football via the VFL this week if he is mentally ready.

"My feel on it is that through the circumstances he has been involved in, if you could imagine it takes an emotional toll. There is a rollercoaster that he has ridden through the last 16 months," Buckley said.

"We see game time as part of that rehabilitation, as a part of that progression back to being available for senior selection and we see it as soon as this week."

Marley Williams is given a 12-month suspended sentence in a Perth court for a one-punch attack in 2012.

"I would like to apologise to all of those hurt, one way or another, by my actions," Williams said in a statement issued via the Magpies.

"I'm deeply sorry for the pain I've caused a lot of people. The last 16 months have not been easy for anyone involved.

"I want to thank my family, friends and football club for their support throughout an extremely trying time. I look forward to quietly getting on with my life with a new understanding of the harm one bad decision can cause.

"I have certainly learned that, regardless of the circumstances, you have to be strong enough to walk away. To be the better man.

"I'm relieved and grateful for the opportunity to return to football, a game I value and respect in a new way after what I have put myself and others through."

Marley Williams leaves Collingwood's training camp at the Gold Coast to fly back to Melbourne.

The 20-year-old defender was set to play against the Suns in a practise match on Sunday, but returned home prior to Friday morning's training session at Metricon Stadium.

"Just to get him away from here, get his head clear, rather than train with us flat out," former Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell said of Williams' decision to return to Melbourne.

"Obviously it's been tough for him. The last couple of weeks have been tough for him and long days, so we're just trying to give him a break from it all."

Members of the AFL's integrity department, Andrew Dillon and Brett Clothier, meet with Magpie CEO Gary Pert and director of football Rodney Eade as part of ongoing discussions on ramifications of Marley Williams being found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Four years after he was left concussed by a violent assault, Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury has backed teammate Marley Williams to resume playing after the defender was convicted of grievous bodily harm last week.

"We're fully supporting Marley as a football club," Pendlebury said.

"I think the media, you guys will be talking about it a fair bit. I feel like a broken record but we support Marls and we're just looking for a good week on the track up here."

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says the club will still play Marley Williams despite the 20-year-old being found guilty of causing grevious bodily harm.

"It is a fair shock to him, but as we have said in our statement, we support him absolutely, we don't condone violence in any shape or form and Marley has shown great remorse for his actions," Budkley said.

"But his behaviour and his actions since that day have been exemplary.

"He is a young man who has made a blue but we will give him every chance to redeem himself, as he has in our eyes in that last year and a half."

Marley Williams is convicted of grievous bodily harm for breaking a man's jaw in a one-punch attack outside a nightclub.

The jury had been told they had the option of finding Williams guilty of the lesser charge of assault but found Williams guilty of the more serious charge, which carries a possible maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Williams will be sentenced in April.

Marley Williams is the round 18 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee after making the most of his opportunities as a small defender with injuries to fellow Magpies Ben Johnson and Alan Toovey.

"I thought I started a little bit slow this year, but since then I've been pretty consistent and been playing my role pretty well, so it's been good," Williams said.

"I've tried to take over the roles of Ben Johnson and Alan Toovey and shut down those small forwards, that's been my main focus.

"The coaches want us half-backs to tuck the ball under our arms, run and then use the ball well, so that's what I've tried to do."

Marley Williams pleads not guilty to an assault charge in his home town of Albany and will face a trial in a West Australian court later this year.

Marley Williams is charged with assault after being involved in an incident in Albany, 400km south of Perth.

Young Collingwood utility Marley Williams has been booked in for more shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of the season.

Marley Williams makes his AFL debut for Collingwood at Football Park with 11 disposals (8 kicks and 3 handballs) and 3 marks in a 26-point win over Adelaide.

Nathan Buckley may be about to hand elevated rookie Marley Williams his AFL debut against Adelaide in round 9.

"Marley's competitiveness and leg speed has been encouraging," Buckley said during the lead up to the Magpies' clash with Essendon on Anzac Day when Williams was also under consideration.

"He's a real go-getter and if he was called upon, I have no doubt he'd be able to stand up on the occasion [of Anzac Day]."