Southern league: Tony Mertis plays 450th match for Doveton Eagles

Tony Mertis got the banner treatment when he reached a mighty milestone for Doveton Eagles in the Southern league.

Tony Mertis breaks the banner for his 450th match for Doveton Eagles. Picture: Valeriu Campan

As the statistician of Doveton Eagles, Tony Mertis was well aware he was due to play his 450th match for the club early in the 2021 season.

Trouble was, the Eagles started it without a reserves team, still recovering from a player exodus that almost shunted them into recess.

Thankfully numbers picked up, and Mertis, 52, could resume doing what he’s done since 1990, try to hold his own and get his share of kicks.

His milestone came on Saturday against Endeavour Hills.

Players from both teams lined up to clap Tony Mertis on to the ground. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It just so happened that he played his first game of football against the same club, for the Doveton Lions juniors.

Mertis calls himself “part of the furniture’’ at Doveton Eagles and he’s proud of his contribution to the club.

Of his 450 games, 16 came in the seniors, the first 25 years ago.

They were the product of a fierce determination to play a few matches in the top side.

He said it was “like winning a premiership’’ when he got the chance. A long time later he’s still grateful coach Darrell Reiger gave him a go.

“No one could see me playing a senior game, let alone a few,’’ he said.

“Darrell gave me one game. Now that actually gave me confidence because it was my sixth season at the club. That little opportunity set me up for a few other opportunities with the other coaches who came along.’’

Tony Mertis stretches ahead of his 450th match. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Mertis doesn’t hold himself up as a world-beater; he happily points out he has won the “unheralded’’ awards in the reserves team he captained for two seasons: most courageous, most determined and best team man.

He did win the best and fairest in 1999 and he did top the goalkicking three times.

Life membership came in 2006.

“That was my proudest moment, absolutely,’’ he said.

He’s seen a lot at Power Rd; the club was operating as Doveton St John’s Old Collegians when he started there. It changed to Doveton Amateurs and then Doveton Eagles. A new jumper was adopted too.

The banner the club prepared for Tony Mertis. Picture: Valeriu Campan

And there have been ups and downs, encapsulated by events after the 2019 Division 2 senior premiership. A few weeks later most of the players had left and league sanctions were placed on the club over governance and administration issues.

It put the future of the Eagles in doubt, and Mertis was grateful for the chance to brings up his milestone this year.

He said the effort of 22-year-old Josh Johns to put up his hand to coach and the work of the committee had been outstanding.

So too has been Mertis’s involvement. Except for last year and COVID, he hasn’t missed a season since 1990. He’s played a stack of matches, he was secretary and he was on the committee.

Tony Mertis strikes the classic football card pose. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Mertis works for Origin Energy and he’s certainly brought a lot of energy to his football club.

President Jenny Davis said the Eagles were grateful for his contribution.

Mertis had contacted her last week to report that fellow veteran Darryl “Cuz’’ Thomas was due to play his 100th game.

“I said to him ‘And isn’t it your 450th?’ He said, ‘Umm, yeah’. And I said to him he should expect some attention,’’ Davis said.

“He doesn’t like attention but after 450 games he wasn’t going to escape attention. He had to suck it up. I’ve got a lot of time for Tony. He’s a top bloke – there’s not one person I know who dislikes him – and he’s done so much for us. He’s a fantastic clubman.’’

The banner he ran through on Saturday said as much.

Tony Mertis gets busy for the Doveton Eagles. Picture: Valeriu Campan