Merv Neagle


Mervyn Neagle was an Australian rules footballer who represented and in the Australian Football League 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 shared a paper round.

Football career

Essendon

Neagle joined, 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, but was a late withdrawal on Grand Final day due to a leg injury.

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. In all, he played five seasons for Sydney before retiring at the end of the 1990.

Post AFL career

After retiring from AFL football, Neagle coached and played at a number of clubs around Australia, including Merbein and Sale in Victoria, Mount Barker Football Club in the Great Southern Football League and Balranald Football Club in the Central Murray Football League. In 2009 he coached St Mary's to the Northern Territory Football League premiership. He also coached North Albury and Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes in NSW, and in 2012 Walla Walla Football Netball Club in the Hume Football League.

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.

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.