Daniel MERRETT

2016 Digest:   Veteran defender has worked through a modified pre-season after missing 11 weeks of the 2015 season with a hamstring injury. Playing what is likely to be the last year of his 14-year career – and his young teammates need him on the field.

2016 NAB Cup:   Joined the elite to procure cult hero status in a pre-season game. Fans went wild every time he went near the ball against the Giants.

2016 Season

Played for : Brisbane

1		Ill.
2	NM	Spoiled as per usual and moved to try and quell Waite.	4
3	Geel	Hawkins had his measure at times and way ball was coming in it was a tough day.	4
4	GCS	Picked-up Lynch early. Did well under immense pressure.	6
5	WB	Took the resting ruckman in Dogs front half. Provided good aerial support at times for Andrews.	5
6	Syd	Acquitted himself well under enormous pressure despite Franklin kicking five goals.	5
7		Ill.
8	Coll	Under siege and while outgunned by Cox, he was by no means the worst Lion.	4
9	Melb	Zoned off Hogan and paid a five-goal price. Fumbled pretty much all day.	2
10	Haw	Respectable effort in defence on Hawthorn’s resting ruckmen.	4
11	Carl	Blanketed Casboult and kept the big Carlton forward to just seven disposals.	7
12	Frem	Stinker of a night; nothing worked.	2
13	WCE	Kept Kennedy goalless in first term and then it was downhill from there.	4
14	Rich	Provided defensive cover as main defender but wasn’t able to quell Richmond forwards.	4
16	GCS	Opposed to Lynch all night who took the honours in the end.	4
17		Ill.
18	Ess	Had hands full with big task on Daniher and conceded four goals. Now has leaked 49 for year.	3
19	Port	Lion hearted effort against enormous odds. Held up well under siege and led by example.	6
20	Adel	No tackles and struggled to curb the influence of Walker.	3
21	Carl	Did well early on Casboult who got loose after half time.	5
22	Geel	Old ‘Rusty Fist’ made some blues but spoiled his butt off all day. Gotta love him.	5
23	StK	Kicked a well-celebrated goal in his last game but Riewoldt beat him in defence.	4

2015 Season

Played for : Brisbane

1	Coll	Had hands full with White. Did well considering backline was under siege.	5
2		Hamstring.
3		Hamstring.
4		Hamstring.
5		Hamstring.
6		Hamstring.
7		Hamstring.
8		Hamstring.
9		Hamstring.
10		Hamstring.
11		Hamstring.
12		Hamstring.
13	NEAFL	Back from injury and played monitored minutes. OK.	–
14	NEAFL	Held Ewing to three goals despite plenty of Thunder attacks.	–
15	Syd	Back into side and provided a presence down back on Tippett/Franklin.	6
16	Melb	Went to Hogan after he kicked his third goal and restricted him to one more.	5
17	NM	Spent most of his time chasing Petrie who kicked four goals.	5
18	Geel	Held his own in one-on-one duels with Hawkins. Did all he could.	6
19	GCS	Looked out of sorts and a bit off pace minding the likes of Lynch and Dixon.	5
20	Carl	Solid down back.	5
21	Adel	Continued to spoil contests when he should have marked the footy.	4
22	Haw	Big job on Roughead and the Hawk proved too elusive.	4
23	WB	Kept the defence together after being under siege in first term.	6

2014 Season

Played for : Brisbane

1	Haw	Went to O’Brien and defended stoutly. Didn’t get a lot of ball though.	5
2	Geel	Hawkins kicked two goals on him but stuck to the task well.	5
3	GCS	Suspension looming for crude elbow. Spoiled an OK game.	4
4		Suspended.
5		Suspended.
6	StK	Matched on Gwilt initially then went to defence late.	4
7	Syd	In the absence of Brown used as key forward but without much success.	5
8	Ess	His marking in attack troubled Hurley at times.	5
9	NM	Had job on Daw, occasionally Petrie. Generally beaten in one on ones.	3
11	Carl	Versatility saw him used in attack, defence then in ruck for injured West.	7
12	WB	Morris had his measure in attack. Competed strongly however.	4
13		Ill.
14	Frem	Used in attack all night but Dawson negated him.	2
15	NM	Provided a target in attack but could not make a statement.	4
16	Rich	Well held by Rance, took just two marks and didn’t hit scoreborard.	2
17	WCE	Gave the Lions a big target in attack but only three marks and one goal.	5
18	GCS	Conditions not for him but made his presence felt in attack.	5
19	Melb	Provided a contest in attack but can expect a holiday for stray elbow on Pedersen.	3
20	Adel	One of four Lions players not to get a stat in first quarter. Out of form.	3
21	Coll	Two first-quarter goals and another on half-time siren. Injured late.	6
22	Frem	Out of form. Did not get a kick in first half and just two for the game.	3
23	Geel	Looked lost up forward and later went to Hawkins in final term. Poor night.	3
QF		–
SF		–
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

Played for : Brisbane

1	WB	On Cordy at start. Unobtrusive.	5
2	Adel	Big job on TexWalker and stuck to the task well.	6
3	GCS	Was his usual solid self in defence and led the backline well.	6
4	NM	Lacked discipline and gave away six free kicks.	2
5	Melb	Took the resting Dees ruckman and defended well despite height difference.	6
6	Syd	Kept Reid under wraps when shifted to him at quarter time. OK.	6
7	WCE	Beaten by Kennedy. Fought hard but lowered his colours.	5
8	Ess	Ended Hurley’s day early with a brutal tackle. Shaky early then steadied.	5
9		Suspended.
10		Suspended.
11		Suspended.
12		Suspended.
13	Geel	Hawkins kicked three but he held together well. Great in final minute.	6
14		Groin.
15	GCS	Eight touches, two goals but his presence in attack caused the Suns problems.	5
16	NM	Minimal impact in attack with five disposals and one goal.	4
17	Melb	Used up forward in Brown’s absence. Two crucial goals and competed hard.	6
18	Port	Played up forward and produced a great smother on Brad Ebert in the last term.	5
19	StK	Strong marking worried the undersized Saint defence.	7
20	Rich	Presented well for a makeshift forward with limited opportunities.	5
21	GWS	Used as a key forward to upset GWS smallish defence. Bagged a couple of goals.	6
22	WB	Good in attack early but stretchered off with an ankle injury early in the third quarter.	5
23		Ankle.
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

Played for : Brisbane

1	Melb	Spent entire match forward for a two-goal return – all the coach wanted.	5
2	Carl	Great battle on Henderson. Kicked 2.3 but never stopped trying.	5
3	Frem	Had a crack. Rucked and provided a marking target as a forward too.	5
4	GCS	Used as third tall in attack. Minor success.	5
5	Geel	Never comfortable in conditions. A couple of errors ended in Cat goals.	4
6	Ess	Had a horror start against Crameri, conceding four early goals.	2
7	Coll	Used as a second tall forward to Brown. Experiment not working.	4
8	GWS	Huge game. Set up easy win with five-goal first quarter.	8
9	NM	Started full forward then lifted Lions when in ruck	5
10	WCE	Used in defence, attack and ruck. OK even though stats don’t look flash.	5
12	Haw	In forward line he had to stick to his role and backed up as ruckman.	4
13	WB	Kicked three goals in opening quarter which helped set victory up.	7
14	Melb	Just the one goal up forward but did a lot of bullocking work.	5
15	Syd	Tried to marshal the backline before being shifted onto Reid in the final term.	5
16	StK	Did his bit in both ruck and attack.	6
17	GCS	Looked likely all night and worked hard in attack and defence.	7
18	WCE	Kicked two goals and rucked too. Had a go.	5
19	Rich	Entertaining contest with Riewoldt, probably shaded him.	6
20	Carl	Went to Waite and had him covered. Battled hard all night.	5
21	Adel	Big effort after quarter time to help keep Crows to just six more goals.	7
22	Port	Had his hands full with Jay Schulz all afternoon and came off second best.	4
23	WB	Rock in defence.	7