# Gary Merrington

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**Gary Merrington** (19 November 1946 – 10 December 2024) was an [Australian rules footballer](/source/Australian_rules_football) who played with [Footscray](/source/Western_Bulldogs) in the [Victorian Football League](/source/Australian_Football_League) (VFL).[1]

Merrington was recruited locally, from Footscray District Football League club Braybrook, and also played on the alternate day for Sunshine YCW.

He played as a defender for most of his career, but also spent some time on the wing.[2]

Merrington was a member of Footscray's 1967 and 1970 [night premierships](/source/VFL_Night_Series), kicking 5 goals in the 1967 final.

After retiring he continued serving the club as a recruiter and was their Football Manager during the 1990s.[3]

He had two sons, [Andrew Merrington](/source/Andrew_Merrington), who played for [Carlton](/source/Carlton_Football_Club) and Adam who played in the Victorian Amateur Football Association for Old Essendon Grammarians.[4]

Merrington died on the night of 10 December 2024, at the age of 78.[5][6]

Overall, Merrington is remembered as a pioneer Bulldog who could play any position excellently (such as hauls of goals when he was moved up forward occasionally) and a recruiter who recruited excellent players such as [Chris Grant](/source/Chris_Grant_(footballer)) and [Leon Cameron](/source/Leon_Cameron). Merrington was a life member of the Bulldogs,[7] and was a passionate supporter of the club for many years after he retired. He also volunteered as a publican at the [All Nations Hotel](https://allnationshotel.pub/) in [Richmond](/source/Richmond,_Victoria), where customers enjoyed eating lunch and talking with him.[6][8]

## References

1. [AFL Tables: Gary Merrington](http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/G/Gary_Merrington.html)

1. Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). *The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers*. BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920910-78-5.

1. *[The Age](/source/The_Age)*,["A Collingwood poll: that's entertainment"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19891203&id=TclUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MpEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3321,3956268), 3 December 1989, p. 65

1. ["Past Player Profiles - PEGS Football Club"](https://websites.sportstg.com/club_info.cgi?c=0-3232-36906-0-0&sID=169556)

1. ["WesternBulldogs Instagram post"](https://www.instagram.com/westernbulldogs/p/DDY1wtdORKS/). *www.instagram.com*. Retrieved 2024-12-12.

1. ["Vale Gary Merrington"](https://www.facebook.com/Western.Bulldogs/posts/the-western-bulldogs-are-deeply-saddened-to-hear-of-the-passing-of-gary-merringt/899311952389236/)

1. ["Life Members | Western Bulldogs"](https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/history/life-members). *westernbulldogs.com.au*. Retrieved 2024-12-12.

1. Harms, John (12 December 2024). ["Vale Gary 'Chooka' Merrington"](https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/vale-gary-merrington/). *www.footyalmanac.com.au*. Retrieved 2024-12-12.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gary Merrington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Merrington) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Merrington?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.