Mark Mercuri - what happened?

[Mr Shankly]

In the Barry Hall decline thread on the main board, someone mentioned Mark Mercuri as a player who reached a high level of football then fell away, never to return to those heights. I used to wonder about this myself, so I thought I'd come to this board in search of answers.

I always admired Mercuri. He was a classy mover and was deadly when he had the ball. During some of those great West Coast-Essendon games of the 90s, the only player I feared more was Hird. But in that dominant year of 2000, I don't seem to remember him being the major contributor he had been throughout the 90s, and post-2000 he was a shadow of his former self.

Is my memory accurate? Were there reasons for his decline, or was it the same old story of age and injury?

 

[Donakebab]

Taken directly from wiki, pretty much how I remember it too.


In 2000, a season where Essendon lost only one game, Mercuri was one of the premier players of the competition, and signed a 5-year contract, which ultimately only lasted for 4 years.

Mercuri lost form late in his career, which was put down to his brother's suicide. He retired in the 2004 season, his last game being the 2004 Semi Final against Geelong.

In 2005, there was talk of a comeback, with Mercuri contemplating nominating for the pre-season draft. This never eventuated.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Mercuri

 

[bOmBeR_BoY1]

The sudden death of his brother back at the beginning of 2000 was, in my eyes, a pretty big turning point in his career.

His 1999 season was amazing and was only a couple of votes off a very well deserved Brownlow Medal. He never recovered from the personal trauma of early 2000 though, despite showing glimpses of brilliance from time to time in the last few seasons of his career.

 

[Mr Shankly]

That's terrible, I did not know that. Poor bloke.

Yeah, his 1999 season was fantastic.

Thanks for that, fellas.

Just on a sidenote, where would you rate Mercuri in Essendon's history? Did he do enough to be considered one of the all time greats of your club? Two premierships and a Brownlow runner up, I'd suggest so, but you'd know better than I.

 

[bOmBeR_BoY1]

He was a great player for us, at his peak. But not an all time great - if that makes any sense.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Mark Mercuri is an all time great at Essendon whichever way you look at it.

2 flags, runner up Brownlow + lot more.

 

[Ricky]

Mercuri was easily the most skillful player at Essendon during his time.. Hird and Rioli just behind him..

Was definitely one of my favorites as a kid growing up..

 

[Burzum]

He had a number of groin injuries which really affected him, as well as his brother's suciide.

 

[Daytripper]

Just on a sidenote, where would you rate Mercuri in Essendon's history? Did he do enough to be considered one of the all time greats of your club? Two premierships and a Brownlow runner up, I'd suggest so, but you'd know better than I.

In the years 1993 -> 1999 he was one of the best players I've seen in an Essendon jumper.

Absoloutly loved him as a player.

I think James Hird said he was the best player he ever played alongside and the player he admired most.

 

[AJ_2000]

He was rated at 41 in the Champions of Essendon which was realsed in 2002. Ahead of players like Ken Fletcher, Darren Williams, Paul Van Der Haar, Neale Daniher, Scott Lucas and Joe Misiti.

 

[stay true]

Oh how I loved Mercuri when I was a kid. Such a gun.

Only bad memory I have of him is the 99 Prelim.

 

[Phat Toni]

He had a number of groin injuries which really affected him, as well as his brother's suciide.

This is how I remembered it. In his last years he had lost all his explosive power, jumping was gone and he had very little zip.

 

[The Donners]

I felt he was no. 2 behind Hird for 5-6 seasons. I absolutely loved his football, tremendously skilled, more orthodox skill than Hird.

 

[Burzum]

I felt he was no. 2 behind Hird for 5-6 seasons. I absolutely loved his football, tremendously skilled, more orthodox skill than Hird.

He and Hird were my equal favourite players as a young lad.

 

[Kong]

I remember his 200th game. It was that Hird game v West Coast in 2004; Mercuri, who had been struggling for nearly 12 months at the time, played a pretty solid game.

He showed a bit more in that year before retiring, along with Wellman and Misiti; their numbers were given to Dyson, Monfries and Stanton respectively.

 

[windyhill]

I backed Mercs various times throughout the `99 season in The Brownlow. We were very strong that year and he had alot of internal competition for votes. Crawford, while a worthy winner was in a team that struggled. Thankfully I backed him each way, but the collect if he had got up !!!!!!! He was sublime that season Mercs with the standout game being the first half of the Ess v Syd final. Sydney could not cope, he had b.o.g wrapped up at half time. Untouchable that day.

 

[efcboy]

i was also on mercs in the 99 brownlow - got him at 200-1 and had him e/w. there was one game, i think against carlton, where he looked a certainty for votes. he didn't get the 1, nor the 2 so i thought you beauty he'll get 3 and could win this.

then they read 3 votes andrew ukovic! WTF!!! i couldn't believe it.

mercuri was a great player but probably won't get the plaudits he deserves for his career as so many stars like wanganeen, hird, long, lloyd, lucas, fletcher take the limelight away.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

such a gun. He & Misiti were one of the all-time great football partnerships for mine. Just complemented each other beautifully

 

[efcboy]

the good thing was misiti, mercuri, alessio amongst others were local boys and beat the blues with their high price recruits (g.williams, kernahan etc) - was awesome.

 

[windyhill]

i was also on mercs in the 99 brownlow - got him at 200-1 and had him e/w. there was one game, i think against carlton, where he looked a certainty for votes. he didn't get the 1, nor the 2 so i thought you beauty he'll get 3 and could win this.

then they read 3 votes andrew ukovic! WTF!!! i couldn't believe it.

mercuri was a great player but probably won't get the plaudits he deserves for his career as so many stars like wanganeen, hird, long, lloyd, lucas, fletcher take the limelight away.

Mate, I`ve argued with hawthorn supporters about this for years. Looks like we were both ripped off. Andrew Ukovic !! I hope you backed him each way to ease some of the pain.

 

[DaSawx]

Dude had eyes in the back of his head, loved him

 

[bOmBeR_BoY1]

i was also on mercs in the 99 brownlow - got him at 200-1 and had him e/w. there was one game, i think against carlton, where he looked a certainty for votes. he didn't get the 1, nor the 2 so i thought you beauty he'll get 3 and could win this.

then they read 3 votes andrew ukovic! WTF!!! i couldn't believe it.

HAHA. I've watched that particular game in full in the last couple of years and he was very influential that day and easily our best player on the ground. 27 possessions and 2 goals.

Crawford was a worthy Brownlow winner in 1999, but what could of been hey...

 

[yaco55]

Mercuri was rated highly by opposition players and coaches.

He was always rated just behind Hird.

 

[The_Young_Gun]

Came 2nd in Brownlow one year didn't he?

 

[Schopp]

Absolute silk so clean by hand and foot, good overhead for a smaller player and lots of tricks. I remember Worsfold saying in the lead up to a final against Essendon in the mid 90's that Hird and Mercuri do things and get out of situations that others can't. Serious freak factor. I remember the decline starting in early-mid 2000 after his brothers death, I thought with a bit of time that he would regain his form, but it never eventuated.