Merv Neagle

Mervyn Neagle (7 March 195823 August 2012) was an Australian rules footballer who represented and 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.

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.

Sydney Swans At the end of the 1985 season Neagle transferred from Essendon to Sydney, where he played 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 season.

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. 2009 - Mount Barker Football Club in the Great Southern Football League 2012 - Walla Walla Football Club: Hume Football League

Personal life Neagle worked as a truck driver

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.