Essendon mourns premiership star Merv Neagle after road tragedy in southwest NSW
THE death of Essendon great Merv Neagle in a trucking tragedy has plunged the football community into mourning.
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THE death of Essendon great Merv Neagle in a trucking tragedy has plunged the football community into mourning.
Neagle, a member of the Bombers' 1984 premiership side, was described as a knockabout bloke who loved a beer.
Neagle was killed when his B-double truck crashed 10km north of Griffith in southwest NSW.
Police said the southbound rig, carrying a load of grain, lost control and ran into an orchard. The road is marked by S-bends and the surface was wet.
Leave your tribute for Merv below
Neagle played 147 games for the Bombers from 1977-1985 before five injury-riddled seasons with Sydney.
He came second in the 1980 Brownlow medal behind Footscray’s Kelvin Templeton.
Legendary Bombers coach Kevin Sheedy was shocked at Neagle's death.
"I want to pass on my sincere condolences to Merv's family during this very sad time," Sheedy said.
"I was lucky enough to coach Merv and he 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."
In pictures the life and times of Merv Neagle
Teammate and premiership captain Terry Daniher said Neagle would be sadly missed.
“It’s certainly a sad day and our condolences go out to the family on what is a very tough day for them. All his close mates and his teammates at the Essendon Football Club are shocked to hear the sad news.”
“He was a terrific hard running player on the wing for us, who gave us his all and had the tenacity to run all day without a spell.
“He was a great mate who loved a beer and loved to be around his teammates.
“He was just a good bloke," he told the Bombers website.
Neagle is survived by his wife Donna and five children: Jay, 24, Jydon, 17, Nathan, 16, Matthew, 14 and Jaxon, 12.
Neagle's son, Jay, debuted for Essendon in 2007 and played 28 games for the Bombers during his career from 2007 - 2010.
Neagle had been coaching the Walla Walla Football Club seniors in NSW where he worked for Hehir’s Transport in nearby Rand.
Merv has left us all too soon but has left those who knew him with many great memories
Neagle has been a popular figure at Walla since taking over as coach this year.
He has taken the Hoppers from the bottom of the ladder to the cusp of the top six this year.
Walla Walla Club President Garry Mickan said his death had not only devastated his family, but the entire community.
"He was heavily involved here, He’s not only a coach, he became a real friend to everyone,'' he said.
Merv Neagle takes a screamer for his beloved Bombers.
"It’s just tragic for everyone and it’s going to be hard for everyone at the club. As a community we’re very close and we’ll get through these times together. It’s just a great loss for not only us, but for Australia.''
Neagle crossed to Sydney in 1986 as part of the Swans' recruiting spree, and spent five injury-riddled seasons with Sydney before retiring at the end of the 1990 AFL season.
Former teammate Robert Shaw paid tribute to Neagle on Twitter.
"Tragic news. Shocking. RIP Merv Neagle. Brilliant player. Ferocious competitor," he said.
Current Bombers player Michael Hibbert also took to Twitter to react to the sad news.
He wrote: "RIP Merv Neagle! Tragic news! Was a great bloke and real character! Thoughts go out to the Neagle family."
Neagle led charge to Bombers' 84' flag
In the early 1980s, Neagle was a Bomber to be feared.
Though his side struggled in 1980, Neagle pushed his claims as one of the best and most exciting players in the league, finishing runner-up in the Brownlow Medal count.
As Neagle's hot form continued, Essendon's premiership aspirations grew legs, and the wingman was an integral part of the side that made back-to-back grand finals in 1983 and '84.
Though Hawthorn thumped them the first year, they would not be denied the second time around.
Neagle kicked a goal in the memorable 24-point win and played one more year at Essendon before moving to Sydney, where he played the final 56 games of his career before retiring in 1990.
Essendon premiership forward Paul Salmon recalled Neagle for a mix of skill, courage and an unwavering instinct to go to the aid of a teammate in trouble on the field.
Merv Neagle (right) with Paul van der Haar and Tim Watson.
"People often ask ex-footballers who were the best players they played with and, maybe it's through rose-coloured glasses, but I always put Merv in the top 10,'' Salmon said.
"I thought he was a super footballer. He was hard as nails and a great bloke to play with.
"I remember Merv from one of my early games in 1983 when (Hawthorn wingman) Robert DiPierdomenico cleaned me up right down the front when I was on a lead.
"I was half asleep and pretty happy with myself and Dipper cleaned me up. And one of the first blokes to come in and grab Dipper and sort him out was Merv.
''As a young blokes 17 or 18, that leaves a lasting impression, looking after your mates on the field. Merv was always the first in there and he loved a scrap.
"I always rated him so highly because of those sorts of things, he was just a powerful footballer. He was a pack-breaker and maybe it was because he gave me a lot of goals when I was a kid and I loved leading to him.
"In 1984 when I was kicking a lot of goals, there were a couple of guys I just loved leading up to and, in the 13 games I played that season, I got to know the different ball carriers in the team really well.
''If Tim Watson, Merv Neagle or Glenn Hawker had the ball in their hands, I knew the odds of me getting on the end of it were much higher.''
- with Bruce Matthews
MERV NEAGLE, 54, recruited from Dimboola
BORN: 7/03/1958
PLAYED: Essendon 147 games 1977-85; Sydney 56 games 1986-90
AWARDS: Runner-up Brownlow Medal, 1980, fourth in 1981, runner-up in Essendon’s best-and-fairest in 1980, equal runner-up 1981
STATE SELECTION: 1980, 1981 and 1985
