Former Port Adelaide player Brad Mercer leads goalkicking charts for Gawler Central

THE football field is full of reminders of the tragedy that struck Brad Mercer a year ago, but it is also a sanctuary for the former Port Magpie.

THE football field is full of reminders of the tragedy that struck Brad Mercer a year ago, but it is also a sanctuary.

It is while he is flying for a mark at Gawler Central Football Club or kicking another goal that Mercer can hear his father Barry's voice.

"The footy field is the place where you can go out there for two hours and it feels comfortable,'' Mercer says.

"He used to come and watch me every week and I feel closest to him while I'm playing."

Barry was tragically killed on August 13 last year in a workplace accident at Golden Grove.

The 54-year-old had been Brad's biggest supporter and his toughest critic.

Brad had made his father forever proud when he earned league selection for Port Adelaide and donned the prison bar guernsey - a jumper Barry had revered since childhood.

He remained a constant presence on the sidelines at his son's matches right up until his death

"At this time of year it is very tough,'' Mercer says.

"You look around and you'd know he'd be down on the boundary watching.

"At Alberton, you'd walk over to the boundary line sometimes and he'd tell me how s**t I was playing."

Still dealing with the tragedy and with the realisation that, at 25, he had struggled to cement a regular league spot at Port, Mercer switched to Gawler Central in the Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association this year.

The forward has kicked a league leading 67 goals but says the most enjoyable part has been playing with "a great bunch of blokes".

Moving to the Tigers has also given Mercer the chance to play with his younger brother Mark.

The pair play with their father's spirit each week and have helped Central to second on the table and a guaranteed finals double chance.

"One of the things that I've always wanted to do was play with him (Mark).

"We haven't played footy together for 11 years (so) that was a major reason.

"I've loved it, especially early on when the grounds were dry.

It's got a bit tougher playing in the swamp lately, but it's still been good fun."

Mercer believes Gawler Central is capable of ending a 12-year premiership drought this September.

He knows Barry will be looking down on him come finals.

"(Top side) Barossa (Districts) is still the favourite, but we have given ourselves a chance to rest up some players and make sure we're ready for finals," he says.