Bob Merrick (footballer, born 1917)
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Warragul, Victoria
| Bob Merrick | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Robert Merrick | ||
| Born |
24 November 1917 Warragul, Victoria | ||
| Died | 25 May 1991 (aged 73) | ||
| Original team | Pascoe Vale | ||
| Height | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 76 kg (168 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1940, 1944 | Fitzroy | 6 (2) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1944. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Robert Merrick (24 November 1917 – 25 May 1991) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]
He was no relation to the better-known Fitzroy player of the same name who played for the club between 1919 and 1926.[2]
Merrick, who was born in Warragul, played junior football with Don Rovers in the Eastern District Football League, followed by Pascoe Vale.[3][4] While at Pascoe Vale he was recruited by Richmond scouts and put on their supplementary list for the 1938 VFL season.[4] Residentially tied to Essendon, the club wanted him to play for them so were unwilling to grant him a clearance to go to Richmond.[4] Instead he returned to Pascoe Vale, but later in 1938 made five appearances for the Carlton seconds.[4] In 1939, back at Pascoe Vale, Merrick won the best and fairest award in the VFL Sub-Districts with a record tally of votes.[4]
Fitzroy recruit
Merrick starred at centre half-forward for the Sub-District league in the annual combined match against Maryborough in 1939, which caught the attention of Fitzroy club secretary Percy Mitchell.[4] Successful in obtaining a clearance from Carlton, Merrick performed well in practice matches for Fitzroy and was brought into the senior team for the opening round of the 1940 VFL season.[4]
On debut, against St Kilda at Brunswick Street Oval, Merrick played on a half forward flank in an 11-point win.[5] He did not register a goal but hit the top of the post with one shot.[5] The following weekend, in round two, he was in the team that lost to North Melbourne at Arden Street Oval by 55-points. He again started on a flank, but struggled against the pace of Ossy Parks.[4] At the beginning of the second quarter he was moved to centre half-forward, switching places with Alf Clay.[4] Described as having a safe mark, Merrick was said to be more suited to this position.[4]
Military service
Merrick's career came to a stop after only two games on 31 May 1940 when he enlisted in the armed service.[3] During the war he was reported to have been wounded three times, twice in the Middle East and later in Lae.[6] He had just recovered from malaria when he returned to Fitzroy in the 1944 VFL season.[7]
