Marchbank was already 24 when he came to Carlton but he soon established a place in the side as both a ruckman and centre half forward.

He participated in Carlton's 1904 Grand Final loss and took a break from the sport in 1905 as the Woods Point recruit was struggling to adapt to life in Melbourne.

He however missed the 1907 flag due to a suspension for striking in an encounter against South Melbourne late in the season.

In 1915, Marchbank transferred to Hawthorn[3] in the Victorian Football Association along with his half-brother Bill and made four appearances before the competition went into recess during World War I.

[4] Marchbank married Ellen Mary Roche in 1920 and worked in the timber industry until his death in 1958.