A proper Carlton supporter

Cocky Marr belonged to Carlton supporter Bob St Marr. For more than 30 years, Bob and Cocky went to the footy together. Cocky did much more than sit quietly and watch—he became part of the match-day atmosphere.

The tram to Princes Park

Bob and Cocky would catch the tram to Princes Park. Cocky reportedly recognised their stop and called, “Here we are, Bob!” Once inside the ground, he perched on Bob’s arm or watched from near the fence.

Goals, Soapy and the umpires

When Carlton kicked a goal, Cocky flapped his wings, squawked and cheered. His favourite player was champion forward Harry “Soapy” Vallence, and Cocky urged him on with “Up there, Soapy!”

He was not shy about umpiring decisions either. His cheeky cry of “Who told you you could umpire?!” could apparently be heard around the ground.

A famous feathered fan

Cocky Marr appeared in newspapers and cartoons and became one of Carlton’s best-known supporters. When he died in 1939 at the age of 43, newspapers around Australia reported the loss.

The unbelievable ending

Cocky was preserved and returned to Carlton at Princes Park. In 1976, staff cleaning an old storage room found a dusty stuffed cockatoo but did not recognise him. He was thrown away before anyone realised the bird was the legendary Cocky Marr.

A cockatoo who rode the tram, celebrated goals, called to his favourite player and challenged umpires had disappeared—but his remarkable story lived on.