Marriott makes the cut

By Gavin Staindl
JUSTIN Marriott has been given the ‘thumbs up’ to return to the Narre Warren seniors … only months after suffering a serious finger injury.
Marriott, 19, was told he may never play football again after he sliced off his right thumb in an accident involving a drop-saw while building a deck.
The promising junior was set to start for the Magpie seniors in their first pre-season match, before needing surgery to reattach the thumb.
To everyone’s surprise, Marriott returned for the Magpie reserves on Saturday and played a crucial role in their seven-point win over Beaconsfield.
Marriott racked up 40 touches and kicked two goals in a best-on-ground performance that, according to Magpie coach Chris Toner, will be good enough to see him return to the seniors.
“He will play this week,” Toner said.
“He is a great kid and will definitely be an asset for us.”
Marriott is in good spirits about the accident.
“He is taking it really well,” Toner said.
“The other day I asked him if he was right to train and he (Marriott) said he wasn’t, so I said to him ‘surely you can dip your thumb in the water for a bit’ and we all had a laugh, so it’s all good.”