Roger Merrett
Encyclopedia
Roger Merrett is a former Australian rules football
er who played in two Victorian Football League premiership sides with the Essendon Football Club
in the mid-1980s before moving to the fledging Brisbane Bears
, later captaining the new club for seven seasons. Well known for his fierce, hard attack on the ball and his dashing moustache, he struck fear into the hearts of opposition players over a long career. He is considered by many as the greatest Brisbane Bear in the club's short history.
during his career, playing in two flags in 1984 and 1985.
He moved to the Brisbane Bears
in 1988 as captain. Merrett became a strong and inspirational captain of the Bears, at first alternating in the ruck with Mark Mickan
. After John Hutton
's inconsistent form at full-forward reached an end, Merrett's tired legs were moved permanently to the position where he was able to use his height and kicking abilities to spearhead the club as their leading goalkicker for many seasons before Alastair Lynch
proved a suitable replacement.
He played on for many years, earning the nickname Roger the Dodger (with reference to his age) before his eventual retirement.
to fill an assistant coaching role at the Brisbane Lions
(formed in 1996 from a merger between the Bears and the Fitzroy Football Club
). However, relations between the two men were cool, and half-way through the 1998 season, with the Lions at the bottom of the ladder, Northey was sacked as coach and Merrett was asked to be caretaker coach for the rest of the year. At the end of this season, however, Merrett was not retained as Brisbane Lions coach. The coaching position instead went to Australian football legend Leigh Matthews
. Merrett has not been closely involved in football since, outside of occasional club functions at Brisbane and Essendon.
, where he operates a post office. He also provides special comments for ABC Radio broadcasts of Brisbane Lions
home matches.
The Brisbane Lions' award for their best-and-fairest player over a season, the Merrett-Murray Medal
, is part-named after him.
For 2009 AFLQ season, Merrett was part time assistant coach for AFLQ power house, Southport Sharks.
On 18 January 2011, Merrett suffered a stroke
, thought to be related to a hereditary heart condition.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played in two Victorian Football League premiership sides with the Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the mid-1980s before moving to the fledging Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
, later captaining the new club for seven seasons. Well known for his fierce, hard attack on the ball and his dashing moustache, he struck fear into the hearts of opposition players over a long career. He is considered by many as the greatest Brisbane Bear in the club's short history.
Playing career
Merrett was a strong competitor for the Essendon Football ClubEssendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
during his career, playing in two flags in 1984 and 1985.
He moved to the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
in 1988 as captain. Merrett became a strong and inspirational captain of the Bears, at first alternating in the ruck with Mark Mickan
Mark Mickan
Mark James "Rubbers" Mickan is a former Australian rules footballer who has the unusual history of being on the inaugural player list for two VFL/AFL clubs – Brisbane Bears and Adelaide Crows. He began and finished his senior career with SANFL club West Adelaide. All-Australian Team selection in...
. After John Hutton
John Hutton (footballer)
John Hutton is a former Australian rules football player in the Australian Football League with the Brisbane Bears, Sydney Swans and the Fremantle Football Club....
's inconsistent form at full-forward reached an end, Merrett's tired legs were moved permanently to the position where he was able to use his height and kicking abilities to spearhead the club as their leading goalkicker for many seasons before Alastair Lynch
Alastair Lynch
Alastair Graeme Lynch is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League . He is best known as a three time premiership full-forward for the Brisbane Lions....
proved a suitable replacement.
He played on for many years, earning the nickname Roger the Dodger (with reference to his age) before his eventual retirement.
Coaching career
Merrett held coaching ambitions for much of his career, and on his retirement at the end of the 1996 season, he was immediately recruited by his coach John NortheyJohn Northey
John "Swooper" Northey is a former Australian rules football player and coach. He played from 1963 to 1970 with the Richmond Football Club....
to fill an assistant coaching role at the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
(formed in 1996 from a merger between the Bears and the Fitzroy Football Club
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
). However, relations between the two men were cool, and half-way through the 1998 season, with the Lions at the bottom of the ladder, Northey was sacked as coach and Merrett was asked to be caretaker coach for the rest of the year. At the end of this season, however, Merrett was not retained as Brisbane Lions coach. The coaching position instead went to Australian football legend Leigh Matthews
Leigh Matthews
Leigh Raymond "Lethal Leigh" Matthews AM is a former player and coach of Australian rules football. He played for Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League from 1969 to 1985, coached Collingwood from 1986–1995, and coached the Brisbane Lions from 1999 to 2008...
. Merrett has not been closely involved in football since, outside of occasional club functions at Brisbane and Essendon.
Life after football
Merrett now lives on the Gold Coast, QueenslandGold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, where he operates a post office. He also provides special comments for ABC Radio broadcasts of Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
home matches.
The Brisbane Lions' award for their best-and-fairest player over a season, the Merrett-Murray Medal
Merrett-Murray Medal
The Merrett–Murray Medal has been awarded annually since 1997, to the player adjudged the Brisbane Lions Club Champion over the immediately preceding AFL season...
, is part-named after him.
For 2009 AFLQ season, Merrett was part time assistant coach for AFLQ power house, Southport Sharks.
On 18 January 2011, Merrett suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, thought to be related to a hereditary heart condition.