Career: 1987 - 1991
Debut: Round 10, 1987 v Brisbane Bears, aged 19 years, 40 days
946th Carlton Player
Games: 17
Goals: 20
Last game: Round 18, 1991 v Brisbane Bears, aged 23 years, 92 days
Guernsey No. 33 (1988 - 1991) and 48 (1987).
Height: 180cm
Weight: 75kg
DOB: 20 April, 1968
'Magic', as he was known to Carlton fans, was a goalsneak who played 17 games for the Blues in the late 1980s. He was an accurate left foot kick and a consistent performer in the reserves, but found it hard to crack a regular spot in the team during a time when finals were a given for Carlton. Had better than a goal a game ratio which indicates that he knew where the sticks were, but suffered in comparison to similar size players such as Mark Naley.
Mark's first kick in senior footy with the Blues resulted in a goal - a classy pick-up, slight shimmy and a kick from about 40 metres out from the scoreboard end at Princes Park.
Recruited from St Marks/Fawkner, Mark has also played Little League Football for Carlton (in 1979). Those were the days when each club ran their own Little League Squads - at this time the Carlton Squad was coached/managed by Keith Duggan, who had an uncanny resemblance to Australian entertainer Rolf Harris.
Magic was later picked up by the Bulldogs in the 1992 pre-season draft, but he did not add to his games tally at the Western Oval.
Career Highlights
1987 - 6th Reserves Best & Fairest1987 - Reserves Premiership Player
1987 - Reserves Leading Goalkicker 53 goals