Merv Neagle
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer (1958–2012)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Merv Neagle
| image =
| fullname = Mervyn Neagle
| birth_date = {{birth date|1958|03|07|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2012|08|23|1958|03|07|df=y}}
| death_place = Tharbogang
| originalteam = Dimboola
| height = 181 cm
| weight = 79 kg
| position =
| statsend = 1990
| years1 = 1977–1985
| club1 = {{AFL Ess}}
| games_goals1 = 147 (52)
| years2 = 1986–1990
| club2 = {{AFL Syd}}
| games_goals2 = 56 (19)
| games_goalstotal = 203 (71)
| sooteam1 = Victoria
| sooyears1 = 1980–1985
| careerhighlights = *Essendon premiership player 1984
}}
Mervyn Neagle (7 March 1958{{spaced ndash}}23 August 2012) was an Australian rules footballer who represented {{AFL Ess}} and {{AFL Syd}} in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the 1970s and 1980s.
Early life
Neagle grew up in Dimboola, a country town in western Victoria. There he formed a lifelong friendship with future teammate Tim Watson. They played junior football and basketball, and they shared a paper round.{{cite news|work=Herald Sun|date=24 August 2012|first=Daryl|last=Timms|title='Gypsy' Neagle played it hard|page=88}}
Football career
=Essendon=
Neagle joined {{AFL Ess}}, in 1976, preceding Watson who joined the club the following year as a 15-year-old. Both players made their senior debuts in 1977. Neagle finished second in the 1980 Brownlow Medal and equal fifth in 1981.
Neagle was selected to play for Essendon in the 1983 VFL Grand Final. He also played in the 1984 VFL Grand Final, where Essendon won their first premiership in 19 years. Neagle kicked the last goal of the match.
Neagle missed the 1985 premiership. He played in the second semi-final win over {{AFL Haw}}, but he was a late withdrawal on Grand Final day due to a leg injury.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/he-was-a-great-mate-who-loved-a-beer-and-loved-to-be-around-his-teammates-20120823-24ots.html|title=He was a great mate who loved a beer and loved to be around his teammates|first=Rohan|last=Connolly|date=24 August 2012|work=The Age}}
=Sydney Swans=
At the end of the season Neagle transferred from Essendon to Sydney, where he played in 1986 until his retirement.
Neagle was offered a rural coaching position in 1989, but chose to remain as a player with Sydney.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pDNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6OcDAAAAIBAJ&dq=merv%20neagle&pg=6038%2C999167|title=Swans get vote of confidence as Neagle re-signs|date=2 February 1989|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Ian|last=Cockerill}} In all, he played five seasons for Sydney before retiring at the end of the 1990 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/player-past.asp?id=679|title=Team Players - Merv Neagle|publisher=Essendon Football Club|accessdate=23 August 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424022035/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/player-past.asp?id=679|archivedate=24 April 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/bombers-mourns-loss-of-merv-neagle/story-e6frg7mf-1226456913722|title=Bombers mourns loss of Merv Neagle|date=23 August 2012|work=The Australian|accessdate=23 August 2012}}
Post-AFL career
After retiring from AFL football, Neagle played and coached at a number of clubs around Australia, including:
- 1991 - Sale in Victoria
- 1992 - North Albury Football Club
- 1993 - Kingston Football Club, South Australia
- 1994 - Maryborough Football Club, Victoria
- 1997 & 1998 - Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes
- 2002 & 2003 - Merbein Football Club, Victoria. 2002 & 2003 Sunraysia Football League Premiers
- 2004 - East Devonport Football Club, Tasmania.
- 2006 & 2008 - Balranald Football Club, NSW. 2006 Central Murray Football League Premiers.
- 2008/2009 - St Mary's: 2009 - Northern Territory Football League premiership.{{cite news|title=HE WAS JUST A GOOD BLOKE - Bombers mourn premiership star Merv Neagle after road tragedy|first=Wayne|last=Flower|first2=Mark|last2=Buttler|work=Herald Sun|page=5|date=24 August 2012}}
- 2009 - Mount Barker Football Club in the Great Southern Football League
- 2012 - Walla Walla Football Club: Hume Football League{{cite news|last=McNicol|first=A.|title=We of the Walla Walla|work=The Age|date=15 July 2012|page=14}}
Personal life
Neagle worked as a truck driver and was the father of former Essendon player Jay Neagle, who was drafted under the father–son rule at the end of the 2005 AFL season.{{cite news|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=nstore&docID=AGE051124144L269CQM7|title=Son sets on Windy Hill|first=Caroline|last=Wilson|date=24 November 2005|work=The Age|accessdate=18 August 2012}}
Death
Neagle died when the trailer of the B-double truck he was driving flipped over and crushed the cabin at Tharbogang, near Griffith, New South Wales.
Neagle's death at 54 years of age prompted a flow of tributes from former teammates and associates. Coach Kevin Sheedy recalled that Neagle:
...was not only a brilliant footballer but was also a real character. Merv was a very tenacious, hard-running player and his courage and toughness were typical of Essendon teams of that era. He had great physicality for a wingman and was a terrific kick for goal on the run. He also gave a lot back to country football after he retired, and along with Tim Watson was one of the finest players to come out of Dimboola. Merv has left us all too soon but has left those who knew him with many great memories.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{AFL Tables | M/Merv_Neagle }}
- {{AustralianFootball | merv+neagle/11046 }}
{{1984 Essendon premiership players}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neagle, Merv}}
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
Category:Essendon Football Club players
Category:Essendon Football Club premiership players
Category:Dimboola Football Club players
Category:Sale Football Club players
Category:Sale Football Club coaches