| Merv Neagle | |
| Fullname: | Mervyn Neagle |
| Birth Date: | 7 March 1958 |
| Death Place: | Tharbogang |
| Originalteam: | Dimboola |
| Height: | 181 cm |
| Weight: | 79 kg |
| Statsend: | 1990 |
| Years1: | 1977–1985 |
| Games Goals1: | 147 (52) |
| Years2: | 1986–1990 |
| Games Goals2: | 56 (19) |
| Games Goalstotal: | 203 (71) |
| Sooteam1: | Victoria |
| Sooyears1: | 1980–1985 |
| Careerhighlights: |
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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.
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.[1]
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.[1] 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 he was a late withdrawal on Grand Final day due to a leg injury.[2]
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.[3] In all, he played five seasons for Sydney before retiring at the end of the 1990 season.[4] [5]
After retiring from AFL football, Neagle played and coached at a number of clubs around Australia, including:
Neagle worked as a truck driver[7] 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.[8]
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.[6]