Introduction The Gold Coast product has established himself among the toughest full-backs in the AFL competition after being trialled initially as a forward. His speed, size, strength and devastating right fist enable him to effectively match-up on the opposition’s most dangerous forwards. Background • Merrett played predominantly touch football and volleyball during his school years on Queensland’s Gold Coast. He later helped a friend by making up numbers in a local AFL match and quickly became fond of this new sport. • He joined Southport in the AFLQ U18 competition and after trialling a range of positions, found his niche playing in the ruck. • He was quickly identified as a player of promise, fast-tracked into the AFLQ’s Talent Search program and represented Queensland in the U18 National Championships in 2002. • The Lions saw great potential in Merrett and selected him as somewhat of a ‘project player’ with their second round selection (Pick No.30 overall) in the 2002 AFL National Draft. 2003 • Merrett’s shone in first season of AFL, playing vital roles up forward in the Lions’ Reserves side – despite having only played Australian Rules football for less than three years total. • While failed to make a senior appearance, his development was certainly fast-tracked towards a promising AFL career. • He was rewarded for his efforts with the Lions Reserves side by finishing fourth overall in the AFLQ’s Grogan Medal. 2004 • Merrett’s fledgling career hit its first real hiccups when he was diagnosed with Glandular Fever which forced him to spend the majority of his 2004 campaign watching from the sidelines. • Although the illness severely restricted his training capabilities, he returned to the field for the Lions Reserves side in their AFLQ Semi Final against Morningside. 2005 • After a carefully planned pre-season, Merrett booted five goals in the Lions’ intra-club practice match, proving that he had overcome his debilitating illness from the previous year. • It may have taken him two full seasons, but Merrett made up for any lost time by making a memorable senior debut in Round 2 against Port Adelaide at Football Park. • A massive dust storm just before the bounce, a centre square showdown with Matthew Primus and a near miraculous comeback meant he had plenty of reasons to remember his AFL debut. • Playing occasionally as a back-up ruckman but mainly as a key forward, Merrett had three double-figure possession games and showed more than enough to suggest his drafting was another astute bit of business by the Lions' recruiting staff. • On the few occasions he was squeezed back to Reserves level, he responded by kicking plenty of goals including eight in a late-April thrashing of Redland at the Gabba. • He played 15 matches for a return of 13 goals and polled the maximum three Brownlow votes with a three-goal display against Collingwood in Round 15. 2006 • Merrett suffered a few minor injury and form issues during the first 17 matches of the season which saw him play only four games before returning to play the final five matches in the senior team. • He was used predominantly as a back-up ruckman or key forward, but when he struggled to kick goals was moved in defence. • Merrett took to defence like a duck to water and earned the big jobs of St Kilda’s Nick Riewoldt and Sydney’s Barry Hall among others. • His trial in defence was another masterstroke move from Senior Coach Leigh Matthews and effectively changed the direction of his AFL career path. 2007 • Following the departure of key premiership duo Justin Leppitsch and Mal Michael in 2006, Merrett became the key to the Club’s severely depleted defensive stocks. • Merrett became the cornerstone of the Lions’ backline and took the scalps of some of the League’s best forwards including Brendan Fevola, Fraser Gehrig, Anthony Rocca and Warren Tredrea. • According to Champion Data, Merrett conceded only 38 goals In 22 matches – two less than All-Australian full-back Darren Glass – averaging less than two goals per match. • After playing every match for the season, it came as no surprise that he was recognised by the Club as the winner of both the Most Improved Player and Best Defender awards. • He completed his breakthrough season with his first ever top ten finish in the Club Champion award. 2008 • Merrett remained the rock in the Lions defence for the second straight season, playing in every match to take his consecutive games total to 47. • He was entrusted each week by the coaching staff to shut-down the opposition’s most dangerous forward and yet again delivered. He had become noticeably more vocal on the field and developed a great understanding with his fellow defenders. • At season’s end, he was selected in Queensland’s Team of the Year for the second consecutive season and finished 12th in the Club’s Best and Fairest award. 2009 • Merrett was elevated into the Club’s Leadership Group as one of four Vice-Captains during the off-season following the Lions Football Department’s restructure. It was a fitting reward for the big Queenslander who had gradually developed into one of the team’s most respected players. • He took on a greater leadership responsibility both on and off the field and remained the Club's lynch-pin down back. • His importance to the team was tested mid-season when he suffered an ankle injury against the Crows in Round 8 which sidelined him for the next four matches. It was the first time in three seasons that the Lions were without their regular full-back (he had previously played 57 consecutive matches). • He returned in Round 13 against Melbourne and played the next nine matches until he was troubled by a hamstring injury in Round 21. • He missed the team's Round 22 match against the Sydney Swans but was passed fit to face Carlton the following week in the Elimination Final at the Gabba - which was coincidentally Merrett's first ever Finals appearance. • He played a total of 19 matches, averaged a career-best 11.3 disposals and finished 15th in the Club Champion award. • Merrett was also selected in the Queensland Team of the Year for the third successive season.
2010 • Merrett was instrumental in the Lions back line in 2010, but was unfortunately hampered by injury early in the season which affected his fitness in later games. • He tore his hamstring in round 5 against Melbourne and was sidelined for the next six games, of which the Lions managed only one win – emphasising the importance of the big defender to the Lions side. • In the 16 games he played, he managed 93 kicks, 177 disposals and 40 tackles. • Merrett played his milestone 100th game in the Lions’ win over West Coast at Subiaco in round 19, making him the third player in Club’s history to achieve the milestone while wearing the number 21 guernsey. • He was selected as full-back in the Courier Mail Queensland Team of the Year for the fourth consecutive year along with fellow Lion Josh Drummond. • Merrett’s outstanding leadership and professionalism saw him win the Marcus Ashcroft Most Professional Player award at the Club Champion award, and rank 13th overall in the Club Champion count. 2011 • Merrett proved a standout for the Lions throughout the first half of 2011. The burly full-back dominated opposition forwards and found plenty of the ball himself. • He earned five Brownlow Medal votes from the team's first four matches (all of which were losses) and shouldered much of the on-field leadership responsibilities together with Jed Adcock following the extended absence of Captain Jonathan Brown. • The Lions' rock in defence was enjoying career-best form until scans after Round 11 revealed he had a hairline fracture in his vertebrae. The injury - which had apparently surfaced two weeks earlier - kept Merrett sidelined for the remainder of the season. • Such was his impressive form, Merrett finished equal 9th in the Club Champion award despite playing just 10 senior matches. He also led the count at the time of his injury. • He averaged a personal-best 14.5 disposals (clearly bettering his previous best of 11.3 disposals per game in 2009) and received a career-high six Brownlow Medal votes. • He was also selected as full-back in the Queensland Team of the Year for the fifth consecutive year.
Daniel Merett's injury is bad for the Lions, but not fatal according to vice-captain Jed AdcockFriday, June 10, 2011 - 4:22PM
Lions full-back Daniel Merrett will run out for his 100th AFL match this Saturday night against the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco.Wednesday, August 04, 2010 - 7:49PM
Brisbane Lions defender Daniel Merrett says the team worked hard to limit the influence of returning St Kilda captain Nick RiewoldtSunday, July 11, 2010 - 1:59PM
The Lions are refusing to concede that their season is over according to Vic-Captain Daniel Merrett.Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 12:50PM
Michael Voss has questioned the Lions’ endeavour on the weekend, believing his players don’t treat each team on it’s meritsMonday, June 07, 2010 - 3:36PM
Daniel Merrett is relishing his position on the last line of defence for the LionsTuesday, June 17, 2008 - 3:25PM
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