Vale Gary Merrington

[Bulldogs85]

 

[Charlie Bucket]

I did some work at Gary’s place several times over the years. Lived locally in Essendon. Nice guy. His wife Fran was a ripper too.

Sad news!

 

[King Harold]

Often use to see him walking past the Scott st Bowls club.

Gave great service to the club , good player and of course famous for recruiting a bloke named Grant at pick 105.

 

[geoffjennings79]

Ah Chooka, sad news. An early favourite of mine. Even as a young kid, I felt sorry for him, having to play FB in those mid 70s teams - one week McKenna, then Wade, then Hudson, Jesaulenko, Richardson/Balme. Yet he gave his all every week, with the odd reprieve at HB or even the wing (when Templeton arrived and Sandilands went to FB). Merra even kicked 4 in a rare forward role in 1973 against the Hawks... after kicking 2.6 the week before!

I bought my finals tickets for each of our 85 finals matches off Gary, after lining up for hours overnight at WO.

He was a regular in the Scanlens cards of the era too, these are the 72, 73 and 74 samples.

Vale Gary Chooka Merrington, #19.



Edit: actually last card is 75, not 74.

 

[dergert]

If they say Chris Grant saved the club... What do they say about the man who recruited him?

 

[Graeme Cook]

Ah Chooka, sad news. An early favourite of mine. Even as a young kid, I felt sorry for him, having to play FB in those mid 70s teams - one week McKenna, then Wade, then Hudson, Jesaulenko, Richardson/Balme. Yet he gave his all every week, with the odd reprieve at HB or even the wing (when Templeton arrived and Sandilands went to FB). Merra even kicked 4 in a rare forward role in 1973 against the Hawks... after kicking 2.6 the week before!

I bought my finals tickets for each of our 85 finals matches off Gary, after lining up for hours overnight at WO.

He was a regular in the Scanlens cards of the era too, these are the 72, 73 and 74 samples.

Vale Gary Chooka Merrington, #19.

View attachment 2185411View attachment 2185412View attachment 2185413

Edit: actually last card is 75, not 74.

Ah Chooka, sad news. An early favourite of mine. Even as a young kid, I felt sorry for him, having to play FB in those mid 70s teams - one week McKenna, then Wade, then Hudson, Jesaulenko, Richardson/Balme. Yet he gave his all every week, with the odd reprieve at HB or even the wing (when Templeton arrived and Sandilands went to FB). Merra even kicked 4 in a rare forward role in 1973 against the Hawks... after kicking 2.6 the week before!

I bought my finals tickets for each of our 85 finals matches off Gary, after lining up for hours overnight at WO.

He was a regular in the Scanlens cards of the era too, these are the 72, 73 and 74 samples.

Vale Gary Chooka Merrington, #19.

View attachment 2185411View attachment 2185412View attachment 2185413

Edit: actually last card is 75, not 74.

 

[Graeme Cook]

Spot on mate he started as a tall winger which was the go mid 60s but was forced to fullback and did a reasonable job.