Bob Merrick (footballer, born 1917)
| Bob Merrick | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Robert Merrick | ||
| Date of birth | 24 November 1917 | ||
| Place of birth | Warragul, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 15 May 1991 (aged 73) | ||
| Original team(s) | Pascoe Vale | ||
| Height | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 76 kg (168 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1940, 1944 | Fitzroy | 6 (2) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1944. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Robert Merrick (24 November 1917 – 15 May 1991) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]
He was of no relation to the better-known Fitzroy player of the same name, that played for the club between 1919 and 1926.[2]
Early career[edit]
Merrick, who was born in Warragul, played his junior football with Don Rovers in the Eastern District Football League, followed by Pascoe Vale.[3][4] While at Pascoe Vale he was recruited by Richmond scouts and put on their supplementary list for the 1938 VFL season.[4] Residentially tied to Essendon, the club wanted him to play for them so were unwilling to grant him a clearance to go to Richmond.[4] Instead he returned to Pascoe Vale, but later in 1938 made five appearances for the Carlton seconds.[4] In 1939, back at Pascoe Vale, Merrick won the Sub-District League's best and fairest award, the Marcus Clota Trophy, with a record tally of votes.[4]
Fitzroy recruit[edit]
Merrick starred at centre half-forward for the Sub-District league in the annual combined match against Maryborough in 1939, which caught the attention of Fitzroy club secretary Percy Mitchell.[4] Successful in obtaining a clearance from Carlton, Merrick performed well in practice matches for Fitzroy and was brought into the senior team for the opening round of the 1940 VFL season.[4]
On debut, against St Kilda at Brunswick Street Oval, Merrick played on a half forward flank in an 11-point win.[5] He did not register a goal but hit the top of the post with one shot.[5] The following weekend, in round two, he was in the team that lost to North Melbourne at Arden Street Oval by 55-points. He again started on a flank, but struggled against the pace of Ossy Parks.[4] At the beginning of the second quarter he was moved to centre half-forward, switching places with Alf Clay.[4] Described as having a safe mark, Merrick was said to be more suited to this position.[4]
Military service[edit]
His career came to a stop after only two games when on 31 May 1940 he enlisted for armed service.[3] During the war he was reported to have been wounded three times, twice in the Middle East and later in Lae.[6] He had just recovered from malaria when he returned to Fitzroy in the 1944 VFL season.[7]
Return to Fitzroy[edit]
Merrick was again used a forward in his second stint at Fitzroy, starting in a forward pocket for the first two rounds of the season, against St Kilda and Collingwood.[8][9] He was 19th man in Fitzroy's round three win over North Melbourne and came on in the last quarter to replace and injured Clen Denning.[10] In round four, against Richmond, Merrick played as a centre half-forward, later going to the back pocket to play on Jack Dyer.[11]
Retirement[edit]
His war injuries, which left him with shrapnel in his lungs, however proved to be affecting him too much and he was forced to retire on the advice of doctors.[12]
References[edit]
- ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
- ^ "Around The Clubs". The Sporting Globe (2 ed.). Melbourne. 1 May 1940. p. 11. Retrieved 29 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "World War Two Nominal Roll". Government of Australia. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Maroons Have Found New Bob Merrick". The Sporting Globe (2: Section: Football Section ed.). Melbourne. 8 May 1940. p. 10. Retrieved 29 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Dashing Fitzroy Too Good For St. Kilda". The Sporting Globe (1 ed.). Melbourne. 27 April 1940. p. 5. Retrieved 29 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Fitzroy Players on Service are Much Travelled". The Australasian. Melbourne. 27 May 1944. p. 8. Retrieved 29 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Footscray Has Pace and System". The Argus. Melbourne. 3 May 1944. p. 11. Retrieved 29 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Games and Players Selected". The Argus. Melbourne. 5 May 1944. p. 11. Retrieved 29 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Fitzroy's Fine Win". The Sporting Globe (1 ed.). Melbourne. 13 May 1944. p. 3. Retrieved 29 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Fitzroy Well on Mark". The Sporting Globe (2 ed.). Melbourne. 20 May 1944. p. 3. Retrieved 29 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Richmond——Fitzroy in Match of Day". The Sporting Globe (2 ed.). Melbourne. 27 May 1944. p. 1. Retrieved 29 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Shrapnel Wound No Bar". The Argus. Melbourne. 2 June 1944. p. 12. Retrieved 29 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
External links[edit]
- Bob Merrick's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Bob Merrick at AustralianFootball.com