Roger Merrett

Recruited from Kaniva in country Victoria, Roger Merrett established himself as a physically imposing key position player in Kevin Sheedy's powerhouse Essendon sides of the early 1980s. A back-to-back premiership player in 1984 and 1985, Merrett was a fearsome competitor who combined strong marking hands with a genuine aggressive streak, often acting as the enforcer for his smaller teammates. While he was a capable relief ruckman and reliable goal-kicker at Windy Hill, his time at the Bombers was defined as much by his intimidation factor and hardness at the contest as it was by his scoring output.

Following the 1987 season, Merrett made the significant decision to move north, joining the fledgling Brisbane Bears in their second year of competition. The transfer provided the struggling expansion club with immediate credibility and authority, as Merrett assumed the captaincy and became the focal point of the attack. Thriving on the responsibility, he evolved into a prolific full-forward, utilising a booming right foot and contested marking strength to carry the Bears' forward line during lean years at Carrara.