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Delisted North Melbourne defender Marley Williams slams club as ‘a shambles’ after tough COVID-affected season

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Catherine HealeyThe West Australian
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Marley Williams is not happy with his delisting from North Melbourne.
Camera IconMarley Williams is not happy with his delisting from North Melbourne. Credit: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos

Delisted WA footballer Marley Williams has blasted former club North Melbourne’s decision to cut 11 players for next season, describing the ordeal as “a shambles”.

Williams, a Claremont junior who hails from Albany, revealed the tough 2020 season “killed me” as the ‘Roos managed just three wins before coach Rhyce Shaw stepped away from the game for personal reasons.

Marley Williams said he ‘lost the fun’ playing AFL this year.
Camera IconMarley Williams said he ‘lost the fun’ playing AFL this year. Credit: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos

Speaking on SEN, Williams said it was “tough” knowing the man who cut he and his 10 teammates would no longer be leading the club.

“I’m definitely not happy with the process,” Williams revealed.

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“Guys like Majak (Daw) thought he was going to get another contract. Give him 45 minutes not a three-minute (exit interview) chat. I think it was handled in the wrong way.

“I think communication could have been better. It was just a tough time for the whole club.

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“I lost the fun 100 per cent.

“This year killed me.

“It was tough knowing that (Shaw) wasn’t in the right mental state, I don’t think he was. To make a call like that.

“But I don’t think it was him making the calls. I think it was higher up… they were just using him as a voice to cut people.”

Williams, who managed eight games for North Melbourne in 2020, said he saw the writing on the wall mid-way through the year when the club knocked back a contract extension.

In happier times: Marley Williams with teammate Cameron Zurhaar.
Camera IconIn happier times: Marley Williams with teammate Cameron Zurhaar. Credit: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

“We pushed for a contract, pushed for a contract and they kept putting it off,” he said.

“I just got to the realisation that (playing on for another AFL club) probably wasn’t going to happen again.

“Going to a third club would have been hard. I think the only interest we had was GWS and we weren’t going to move.

“We’ll move onto the next part of our lives.”

The West Aussie joked he was now a “stay at home dad” to his two dogs and revealed he signed to play local footy for Port Melbourne.

“I was about to hit my prime, and I guess I’ll hit my prime playing for Port,” he said.

Williams played 128 AFL games for Collingwood and North Melbourne after being snapped up as pick 35 in the 2012 rookie draft.

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