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Retired Daniel Merrett (2002-2016)

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TheBrownDog said:
I may be (stitchface excluded) the biggest Daniel Merrett fan here, but Rog giving tips on the technical points of kicking is like Bradd Dalziell lecturing on hard ball gets.

;)
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I may not be his No.1 fan, but I did manage to snap up his signed-match-worn guernsey from the Pies game at the G' this year :D
 

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kizzel said:
I may not be his No.1 fan, but I did manage to snap up his signed-match-worn guernsey from the Pies game at the G' this year :D
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Well I sponsored him in 2007!

*makes raspberry noise*
 
Watched a few games over the last few weeks wishing it was March 2010 already and really started to pay attention to Merrett's tackling, he is an animal. Tackle of the year goes to Merrett when we played Geelong and he SMASHED nathan djerrkura into the ground.
 
2008 Review

2009 End of Season Review

In a word: Gibraltar - solid as a rock.

When Merrett was initially moved to defence after struggling to gain a place as a tall forward, he quickly developed a reputation as a quality one on one defender, able to match speed, height and strength with most quality tall forwards in the competition.

The difference from that Saucehead to the one that went around in 2009 is his ability to contribute more than simply beating his direct opponent. Merrett is undoubtedly the backline leader for the Lions, evidenced by his elevation to the leadership group this year. He is regularly seen to be directing his teammates, orchestrating match-ups and providing encouragement to his fellow defenders.

Merrett's game sense has now developed to the point that he will leave his direct opponent to get to other contests and will comfortably set up play from the last line of defence, albeit without the penetration or dash of a Drummond or McGrath. This expansion of role has occasionally come at the cost of leaking a goal or two to his direct opponent.

Despite missing the pre-season with injury, 2009 was simply a continuation of Merrett's maturity as a quality, no-nonsense defender. He remains a solid, reliable member of the backline, able to "do a job" on the tall forwards of the comp. He is unlikely to take the next step as a defender to the point of being able to provide a consistent offensive threat to the opposition, ala Scarlett, Bock or Fletcher. However, his presence on the last line of defence enables Voss to build a backline around him, utilising the more versatile qualities of a Patfull on other opponents and allowing the likes of McGrath and Drummond to play looser.

Merrett's importance to the structure of the side was illustrated during his injury-forced mid-year absence in which the lack of another "gorilla" in the squad was made particularly evident. The recruitment of Maguire may go some way towards providing some insurance but there is no doubt that Merrett remains Voss's number 1 tall defender and is the first player named in defence each week.

The suspicion is that Voss wouldn't have too many more expectations of Merrett than what he is currently producing. The keys for a successful 2010 will be to improve the reliability of his disposal and decision making with ball in hand and to continue to shape the backline through his leadership, particularly with the likelihood of some new faces down back. Merrett is due to play his 100th game in 2010 and, at age 25, has many years of senior footy ahead of him.

Finally, a review of Merrett in 2009 wouldn't be complete without reference to his "Back to the Future" move into the forward line in round 18 against Collingwood, making a couple of punters very happy that he managed to kick the first goal of the match, a freaky snap from the boundary too. Showing that there's still a forward's blood flowing through the defender's veins, Big Rog proceeded to celebrate his wonder goal at almost the same moment that the footy left his boot!

merrett.jpg
 
Brown

Already ex-Surfers Paradise boy Dan Merrett, who might have been a prime Gold Coast target, has backed the Lions by signing a four-year contract through to 2013.
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Grimreepah said:
Brown
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:thumbsu: :D :thumbsu: :D :thumbsu: :D :thumbsu: :D :thumbsu:

Gotta love how Strawbs goes about contract negotiations. Take heed Riska and Jars.

Interesting to note that Browny's chosen to break the 'we don't talk about contracts' policy.
 
I wonder sometimes if enough Lions supporters realise what a great player and champion club man we have in Daniel Merrett.

I love the big ranga to death.

I shudder with contempt everytime I hear some muppet at the Gabba sledge him. By all rights we were on a hiding to nothing down back when Leppa and Mal finished up. Merrett (along with Patfull) was like a gift of love from the footy gods.

As stitchface and I are former sponsors of him, he always makes an effort to have a chat to us at B&F nights. He was telling us last year that he had no intention of heading to the Gold Coast because he honestly couldn't stiff his teammates and the club (who plucked a big boofy red headed gold coast kid out of obscurity and give him a Rocky Balboa shot). I believed him at the time, but with word all over the grapevine this year that Gold Coast were red hot on him, I had started to have my doubts.

Maybe I am an emotional bundle of nerves today, but I honestly felt shivers of pride when I read he had quietly resigned without fuss AGAIN. He's a bloody champion and I shouldn't have doubted him for a second.

It's blokes like him that make following a footy club so great. It's loyal players like him, and the Scotts, Copelands, Ashcrofts, Vosses, Browns, Powers and Lappins that came before him that have turned a once quaint little frontier expansion franchise where washed up players went to earn an easy crust into an honest to god heart-and-soul footy club.

You're a champ Dan.

Clinically timed article by the great Jon Brown by the way. Hope Jared got today's paper. :)

[/emo rant]
 

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As TBD said, LOVE HIM TO BITS (How could you not?)..

I really do feel that he going to take the next step and really assert himself as the premier fullback in the competition.
 
Lions1024 said:
As TBD said, LOVE HIM TO BITS (How could you not?)..

I really do feel that he going to take the next step and really assert himself as the premier fullback in the competition.
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Amen. My mates call him my love child. Met him early on & was impressed. Thank the football gods that MM went to Essendon, because if ever a man found what he was born for it happened when Leigh put Strawb to full back - a move of desperation.

Good as Brownie was, we would not have won tonight with out Big Red. Legend.
 
Thought he was average at best tonight. Was caught out of position a few times and dished off some dicey handballs and kicks.
 
Has been firmly entrenched in my favourite 3 Lions for a couple of years now. Sure I get ridiculed whenever I profess it but I wouldn't change it. Go Dan!
 

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Jorgo said:
Has been firmly entrenched in my favourite 3 Lions for a couple of years now. Sure I get ridiculed whenever I profess it but I wouldn't change it. Go Dan!
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Who the hell ridicules you for having Merrett as one of your favourite players?! He's one of our better players in the team!:confused:
 
Lehmo87 said:
Who the hell ridicules you for having Merrett as one of your favourite players?! He's one of our better players in the team!:confused:
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Apparently people outside our club think he's a nuff nuff. Doesn't bother me as they're obviously just unenlightened, but they seem to think I'm some form of moron who doesn't understand the game.
 
merrett4.jpg


Merrett goes for an early mark of the century contender:eek: (note: he completely missed the ball). He seems be really throwing his weight around. Schultz finished the game fairly bruised and battered. I'm looking forward to his battle against Hall. Will he try and match his aggression, or will he just keep his head down?
 
Grimreepah said:
I'm looking forward to his battle against Hall. Will he try and match his aggression, or will he just keep his head down?
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The latter doesn't really sound like Strawbs.

Fingers crossed for controlled aggression.
 
whatboutbob said:
The latter doesn't really sound like Strawbs.

Fingers crossed for controlled aggression.
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I don't think Merrett has ever gotten in Hall's face before. He's played alright on him, but never done anything to stir him up. Would love to see Merrett really take it up to him and let him know he isn't the lead bull around here anymore. The psychological shift would spread through the rest of the players. Easier said than done though, especially if we are getting killed in the middle.
 

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