Jonathon Marsh’s stunning career resurrection is almost complete.

The 23-year-old was today named to take on GWS on Saturday afternoon, almost three years since he last played an AFL match.

The powerful defender was added to St Kilda’s list on the eve of the season under the AFL’s new Supplemental Selection Period rules.

MARSHING IN: Ex-Magpie Jonathon Marsh joins St Kilda

With a spot available due to Jack Bytel’s season-ending back injury, and defender Jake Carlisle also set to miss a large chunk of the year, the Saints turned to Marsh to fill an important void.

The West Australian native was training with Richmond’s VFL team at the time with the hope of reigniting a once promising career.

Marsh looked to have it all before him in 2016, as he strung together a consistent back half of the season with Collingwood.

But despite his on-field performance heading north, off the field, the then 21-year-old was struggling.

Knowing home was the best place to overcome lingering mental health issues, Marsh asked for a move back to Perth at the end of 2016.

But when a trade didn’t eventuate, he made the difficult decision to retire from the AFL.

The supreme athlete returned to the football field the following year with East Fremantle, and immediately rediscovered the hunger to play at the highest level.

DAY ONE: Marsh speaks to saints.com.au on whirlwind journey

A standout season in 2018 saw the defender emerge on draft boards across the country, but he was forced to wait.

Then in mid-March, a phone call from St Kilda changed his life.

Talk about a fairy-tale comeback.



Jonathon Marsh will play his first game for the club this Saturday.



- https://t.co/Q94PnxFLEn pic.twitter.com/2qT9lPlKdD — St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) May 2, 2019

The second chance he’d so desperately sought was now a reality, and Marsh instantly got to work to earn the respect of his new teammates and coaches.

“I’ve had a focus on getting the trust of my fellow players and also the coaches, and I think I’ve done that,” Marsh told saints.com.au.

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“I’ve really applied myself, whether it be on the track or in the gym, and I’ve really focussed on developing relationships, so I think I’ve ticked those boxes a lot.”

But more than anything, the ex-Pie exuded raw excitement at the prospect of a comeback that once seemed near impossible.

“Since I left the AFL, I wanted to get back here, so it’s been a long two years,” Marsh said.

I think it’ll take 24 hours for the head to settle, but yeah I’m pretty happy!"

Jonathon Marsh was just 20 years old when he last played a game in the AFL.

When he walked away from the game, it looked as if the supremely talented youngster with the bright future would never play again.

But on Saturday, the now 23-year-old’s AFL career will be reborn.

Go well, Jono.