Past player - Mark Merenda

[Miguel Sanchez]

Mark Merenda​

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Nickname: Choco​

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DOB: 29/10/1975

Height: 181cm

Weight: 81 kg

Playing number: 21

Arrived: Traded from Richmond at the end of the 2000 season for pick 57 (Steven Sziller)

Debut: Round 1, 2001 vs Geelong – 133rd Eagles player.

Games: 26

Goals: 26

Won: Goal of the Year in 2001

Departed: Retired at the end of the 2002 season.

Drafted by Richmond in 1993 from West Perth, Merenda played 75 games in the yellow and black from 1994 to 2000, but only managed 15 in his last three seasons due to a debilitating back injury. Richmond sent him home in return for a low draft pick.

A livewire forward, Merenda made an impression in just his third match when he kicked goal of the year in the forward pocket at Docklands to help propel his new side to a win against St Kilda.
[youtube]TnuQ6PzIJeo[/youtube]
Merenda managed 19 games for the year and provided a few other bright moments in an otherwise bleak season for the club.

Unfortunately, Merenda suffered a recurrence of his back injury in 2002 and managed just 7 more games before retiring at the end of the year.

Where is he now? Running a real estate agency in Northbridge​

 

[Quinz]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

Loved that goal, always thought he showed a fair bit when he wasn't injued Merenda.

 

[JordanWCE]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

 

[lyall]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

For some reason thought he had always kicked goals against us and we recruited him as if he was Jason Davenport like. Turns out he kicked 3 against us once and that was it.

One thing I do remember from his goal of the year game was Daniel Kerr trying to take mark of the year in just his 3rd game
For those interested
[YOUTUBE]QjTLfZ8gp4M[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Truckosaurus]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

I've always had a soft spot for him as he was one of the first Eagles whose number I learnt as a young supporter that hadn't been involved in our premierships and wasn't called Cousins or Matera. The second was Rowan Jones'. He was also the first name that sprung to mind when I saw the PPotW announcement thread last week.

 

[E92_]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

I remember the goal of the year game.


Also remember a game where there was a whistle and after it was blown Mark kicked it off the ground and into the crowd and we got a 50m penalty against us. Atleast thats what I think happened, it was a while ago.

 

[Gaffanator]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

From the Ken Judge era, therefore cannot like. Thought he was really good when I was a kid because I thought trading was cool. Thankfully I've matured

 

[larrikin]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

Always liked him - pity his body couldn't handle the rigours of AFL Footy.

He worked with a friend and a Real Estate place in Como after his tretirement and she actually got him to get a player to sign an Eagles bag for my son's first birthday. The player - C Judd...

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

Fond memories of Merenda in our family.

"he's dirty looking" my mum

"that's racist!" us boys

"no no i meant because he hasn't shaved! I'm not racist" mum franticly defending hereself. She's also never been racist but to good an opportunity to pass up.

Still gets a run out when all the boys end up at home and looking to hang some sh!t on my mum.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

Once took an absolute speccy sitting on Guy McKenna's head while he was with the Tiges. Pretty sure it was Bluey's 200th? On a Monday night I think.

We got thrashed.

 

[ioppolo]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

Only memory I have is that goal of the year.

So yeah.

 

[Empire_Persian]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

I've always had a soft spot for him as he was one of the first Eagles whose number I learnt as a young supporter that hadn't been involved in our premierships and wasn't called Cousins or Matera. The second was Rowan Jones'. He was also the first name that sprung to mind when I saw the PPotW announcement thread last week.

Are you me? Because this is actually me, to a tee...

 

[wirra44]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

The player - C Judd...

Who?

Also always liked Merenda remember going to a derby back in 01 and him having a pretty decent game think he finished with 4 or 5? and hoped he would be in with a chance to get the medal.

 

[larrikin]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

Who?

Also always liked Merenda remember going to a derby back in 01 and him having a pretty decent game think he finished with 4 or 5? and hoped he would be in with a chance to get the medal.

Yeah, the bag got shelved

 

[Biggie]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

Always rated Merenda.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

Re: Past player of the week - Mark Merenda

Good WA Footballer

 

[Zargo]

Just been watching "West Coast Day" on foxtel with some of our "greatest" victories... apparently round 12, 2002 against Carlton is, and Merenda wins the game for us by convincing an umpire that a carlton player has deliberately put the ball out of bounds on the full with about two minutes left and then he kicks the point to get us in front (the free kick wasn't really there).

He also kicked an excellent goal from outside 50 earlier in the match.

Merenda was my favourite player back in 2001-02 and I recall being disappointed when he vanished.

 

[Biggie]