DON MARINKO BALL LEGEND 2014

DON Marinko Snr was announced as the West Perth Football Club's Ball legend for 2014 at the president's luncheon on Saturday at Arena Joondalup.

A football with Don’s remarkable record and picture was presented by West Perth president Brett Raponi to Don’s sons Ray and Don Jnr.

The WAFC introduced Ball Legends in 2001 to respect and honour great past deeds of club champions in the WAFL. 

Don Marinko Snr was arguably West Perth’s most important player during the ‘Golden Era’ of the early 1930s when West Perth broke a 26 year premiership drought and won three premierships in four years, 1932, 1934 and 1935. Don Marinko Snr played in all three of those premierships.

He was the premiership captain in 1934 and 1935. He was unquestionably the driving force in those three premierships. He remains the only person to captain successive premierships in our history.

"The Marinko family has an amazing history and made a significant contribution to the West Perth Football Club," president Raponi said.

"Don had a glittering career and played in three premierships and is worthy of this honour. History will also record that Don fathered two champion sons who both went on to have stellar careers in the own right at West Perth.

"All three are premiership players, all three played more the 150 games and all three Marinko’s are life members."

Don Jnr and Ray were given the honour of tossing the coin before the game against South Fremantle.

Whilst the league team did lose the game of football against the Bulldogs it had little effect on Don Jnr and Ray who spent the afternoon reminiscing with other club greats including Alan Watling, Paul Mifka, Bill Dempsey, Ray Schofield, Keith London and Geoff Taylor.

The West Perth Football Club is the oldest club in the WAFL and boasts a magnificent history built on 19 premierships and an endless list of champion players. Don now sits alongside the following Ball Legends:

2001       Mel Whinnen

2002       Bill Dempsey

2003       Les Fong

2004       Stan Heal

2005       Wally Price

2006       Paul Mifka

2007       Alan Watling

2008       John Duckworth

2009       Brian France

2010       Peter Menaglio

2011       Ray Schofield

2012       Steve Trewhella

2013       Harold Boyd