Mark Naley

Career : 1987 - 1990
Debut : Round 1, 1987 vs Hawthorn, aged 26 years, 16 days
Carlton Player No. 940
Games : 65
Goals : 74
Guernsey No. 17
Last Game: Round 21, 1990 vs Hawthorn, aged 29 years, 166 days
Height : 177 cm (5 ft. 9 in.)
Weight : 76 kg (12 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : 11 March, 1961
Premiership Player: 1987

From Sacred Heart College in South Australia, Mark Naley made his SANFL senior debut with South Adelaide in 1980. He quickly established his reputation as a star state footballer, particularly impressive against the Vics on a number of occasions. He represented his state from 1981 to 1989, and again in 1991 and 1992.

He was then recruited by Carlton, playing 65 games and scoring 74 goals in a successful VFL career between 1987 and 1990. His stay at Carlton got off to a slow start until he was selected for State of Origin duties by South Australia in 1987. He played a blinder in that game, and from then on was a star with the Blues. The undoubted highlight was the Premiership of 1987. One enduring memory of Mark Naley is of him wearing the long-sleeve number 17 guernsey (often with the sleeves rolled up), accelerating through the centre square and blasting through a goal from 45 metres out. Equally comfortable as a rover or at half forward, he formed a devastating roving partnership with fellow smalls Gleeson, Murphy, Evans and Bradley in the late 80s.

Perhaps what set Naley apart from many who came to Carlton was his success both before, and after playing in the Navy Blue. He returned to South Adelaide in 1991 and won the Magarey Medal - an honour that was pre-empted by Footscray's attempt to draft him at number six selection in the '91 mid-season draft. But Mark was settled back home, and eventually played a total of over 250 games for South Adelaide before he retired in 1993. In honour of Mark's fine achievements at SANFL level, we have outlined those successes below.

Mark Naley was to find out later in life that he was of indigenous origin.

Mark maintained a very strong connection with the club, especially with the past players group. He would assist with every function involving South Australia and often come back to Victoria to be involved with the Blues. After a long battle with cancer Mark passed away at the young age of 59 on the 6th of July 2020, leaving a great legacy and a huge hole of sadness at the Carlton Football Club.

Milestones

50 Games : Round 11, 1989 vs Sydney Swans

Career Highlights

1987 - 4th Best & Fairest
1987 - Best First Year Player Award
1987 - Premiership Player
1987 - All Australian
1987 - Tassie Medal - Best and Fairest - 1987 National Football League Carnival
1988 - 9th Best & Fairest
1989 - 4th Best & Fairest
1990 - Reserves Premiership Player

Honours (ex-Carlton)

1981 - Magarey Medal - Runner-Up
1982 - Magarey Medal - Runner Up
1986 - All Australian
1991 - Fos Williams Medal - South Australia’s best player in 1991
1991 - Magarey Medal

Video

Links

Articles / Links: Medallists

Blueseum: A summary of Naley's AFL career | Career Breakdown

Gallery

Future Blue; Sth Adelaide's Mark Naley.
Mark Naley.
Mark Naley - autograph.
1982 Naley Tug of War (29/07/82).
1981 Naley targeted by Vic. clubs.
Mark Naley Screamer.
1983 SA State Player Mark Naley Profile (26/05/83).
1987 - Blues recruits Naley & Sartori (Jan 87).
1987 Rd 7 - Naley on fire (13/05/87).
1987 State Game - Mark Naley.
1987 Rd 14 - Mark Naley spoils Dermott Brereton.
1987 Rd 14 - Mark Naley about to tackle Michael Tuck.
1987 Rd 14 - Mark Naley with the footy.
1987 Rd 14 - Mark Naley spoils Dermott Brereton.
1987 Rd 15 - Mark Naley chases the loose footy.
1987 Rd 19 - Mark Naley gets a clearing kick.
1987 Rd 19 - A happy Mark Naley after big win over the Swans.
1987 Rd 8 - Mark Naley fires of a handball.
1987 2nd Semi - Naley turns the corner (IF 16/09/87).
1987 2nd Semi - Mark Naley quote.
1987 2nd Semi - Naley's day out.
1987 2nd Semi - Naley a quiet achiever.
1987 2nd Semi - Naley rises to the occasion.
1987 2nd Semi - Mark Naley in front of Greg Dear.
1987 2nd Semi - Mark Naley rides Russell Morris into the turf.
1987 2nd Semi - Ball magnet Mark Naley.
1987 2nd Semi - Mark Naley leaves Hawk opponent in his wake.
1987 - Carlton Premiers for 1987.
1987 GF - Mark Naley the best rover of the finals.
1987 GF - Blues belt out the theme song.
1987 GF - Naley nervous in lead-up.
1987 GF - Naley streaming towards goals.
1987 GF - McKenzie & Gleeson celebrate a Naley goal.
1984 - Swans to swoop on Mark Naley (22/03/84).
1984 - Swans ready to sign Naley (05/04/84).
1984 - Mark Naley to stay in SA for the season (26/04/84).
1984 - Naley to play with Swans (31/05/84).
1984 - Swans trying to get Naley to Sydney this year.
1984 - Mark Naley a free agent in 1985 (27/09/84).
1987 - Mark Naley Profile (07/08/87).
1987 Rd 19 - Mark Naley.
1989 State Game - Hall does knee with Naley in background.
1989 State Game - A dejected Naley & Bradley.
1986 State Game Vs SA - Blues players star (15/05/86).Inside Football.
1988 - Kernahan & Naley star for SA (02/03/88).Inside Football.
1988 Rd 2 - Blues at the break.Inside Football.
1988 Rd 14 - Mark Naley spoils.Pic: Inside Football.
1988 Qual. Final - Naley the Catalyst.Inside Football.
1988 Qual. Final - Naley shoots off a handball.Pic: Inside Football.
1988 Qual. Final - Naley tackled high.Pic: Inside Football.
1988 Prelim. Final - Mark Naley kicks downfield.Pic: Inside Football.
1989 Rd 2 - Naley & Rhys-Jones wrap up Dwyer.Football Record.
1988 - Mark Naley kicking the footy.Pic: Inside Football.
1989 Rd 7 - Mark Naley shoots for goal.Pic: Inside Football.
1989 Rd 7 - Naley is restrainedPic: Football Record.
1989 - Mark Naley & the Legacy of No.17 (May 89).Inside Football.
1989 - Mark Naley staying (04/10/89).Inside Football.
1988 - Mark Naley.Inside Football.
1989 State Game - Mark Naley.Pic: Football Life.
1989 Rd 14 - Herman & Naley contest the footy.Pic: Football Life.
1990 - Naley; another flag the lure.Pic: Inside Football.
Mark Naley gets boot to ball.Pic: Inside Football.
1991 - Naley returns to SA to play for Sth Adelaide.Inside Football.
Naley Tackles Peter Daicos 1988 QF
1991 - Bulldogs waste mid-season pick on Naley (26/06/91).Pic: Inside Football.
1991 - Mark Naley is hot favorite for the Magarey Medal (11/09/91).Inside Football.
Mark Naley On The Burst...
1990 - Mark Naley at training.Pic: Inside Football.
Mark Naley 2008 ?
Naley Gets Another Kick Away.
1993 - Ex Blue Mark Naley to delay retirement (11/08/93).Inside Football.
1998 - Mark Naley blasts Blues (10/06/98).
1988 - Unofficial selectors watching Blues train.
1980 - Future Blue Mark Naley profile.
1984 - SA Rep's; Bradley & Naley.
1984 - Mark Naley article.
Sth Adelaide's Mark Naley.
1981 - Future Blue Mark Naley.Credit; My Scrapbook of SANFL Pictures Group (FB)
1982 SA State Team - Maylin & Naley.
1987 2nd Semi - Mark Naley.
Future Blues; Sth Adelaide's Mark Naley.Credit; My Scrapbook of SANFL Pictures Group (FB)
SA Rep Mark Naley.
1989 - Mark Naley article.
Sth Adelaide's Mark Naley.
1988 Rd 7 - Justin Madden & Mark Naley against the Cats.
1989 SA State Rep. - Mark Naley.
1981 - Future Blues; South Adelaide's Mark Naley.
1987 - SA Rep. Mark Naley.
1989 - SA State Team; Kernahan and Naley.
1989 - Mark Naley.
1983 - SA Rep. & Future Blue Mark Naley.
1987 - Grand Finalists Poster.
1989 Rep. Game; SA's Kernahan & Naley.
1981 - Future Blue Mark Naley (Mangels & Clarke).
1983 - Future Blue; SA Rep. Mark Naley.Source; WAFL ON.
1987 - SA Rep. Mark Naley wins Tassie Medal as best player.
1989 - SA's Mark Naley leads Andy Collins (VIC) to the footy.
South Australian Rep. Mark Naley.
South Australian Rep's. Peter Motley (top L) Mark Naley (top M).
1984 - Jim Buckley (VIC) gets a kick away from Mark Naley (SA).
1989 Rd 13 - True Blue Naley.
1988 - SA Rep.; Carlton rover Mark Naley.
1983 - Future Blue; Sth Adelaide's Mark Naley.
1980 - SA Rep.; Future Blue Mark Naley.
1989 - SA Rep.; Blues Mark Naley.
1983 - Future Blues; Mark Naley & Peter Motley.
1985 Future Blue; Sth Adelaides Mark Naley