Gary Merrington. 1970 Scanlens card.
It is with much sadness that I write a few words to say that a great friend of The Footy Almanac, Gary Merrington, died suddenly on Monday night. He was 78.
I imagine, like me, you will be shocked to hear that. We spent years with Gary looking after our lunches. He was just part of it all.
Gary was a ripper bloke. He had many talents which were on display in the various elements of his life. His great talent was for human warmth and friendship, and his capacity to be interested in others and do the best for others, whether in football at all levels and especially VFL and AFL football, or pouring a beer, in recent years at the All Nations Hotel.
He was the perfect barman and host. He loved a chat. He was well-connected in footy and in Melbourne life and he would give you just enough about someone or something to keep you interested. A born recruiter! Perhaps that’s how he found Chris Grant. His son Andrew played at Carlton and then in the WAFL.
Recruited from Melbourne’s west as a tall teenage wingman, he played 176 games for Footscray, often as a key backman, although he had a short stint up forward – a month – in 1973. He may have stayed there had he not kicked 2.6 at one of the first outings. His first game was against Geelong in Round 3 of 1966, his last was towards the end of the 1974 season.
When Susan and I first went to Melbourne in 2003, we met Garry who was then pouring beers occasionally at the North Fitzroy Arms, which became my local.
On our very first night in Melbourne, we stayed with our friends Bayden and Cale, who took us to The Court House in North Melbourne. I had always joked, with a little skepticism, that every beer you drank in Melbourne was poured by a footballer. Well, my first beer in Melbourne was poured by an old footballer at the Court House. Somewhere in there at the start of our wonderful years, Gary was looking after the bar at the North Fitzroy Arms. These were early internet days and the online culture had not taken over so Friday night demanded a trip to the pub to get the footy tips in, and to catch up with everyone. Gary was a big part of the tone of that pub, the way the best publicans and barman and women do. It was often two-deep at the bar, sometimes even more.
Equally, if you popped in for a steak sandwich and a couple of beers for lunch and it was you and Jimmy Wall and Kev from up the road, and Chicka Ferguson’s brother with Jeanie, he’d be up for a chat. Being a barman seemed to be something he did to spend time with people.
Melbourne is Melbourne because of people like Gary Merrington who create an alchemy of conversation and football and a beer. The writer Peter Temple understood that. The scenes of the three old blokes at the bar capture that Melbourne, not necessarily because of what they’re discussing and bemoaning, but because they are in the pub at 2.15 on a week day, when a pub has a certain atmosphere – quiet, but ongoing, and possibly about to stir up. Who knows.
On behalf of The Footy Almanac community, I pass on our deepest sympathies to Gary’s family and friends. His wife, Fran, and their three children and extended families. And my personal greeting goes to them too, particularly Bob and Dee O’Kane, Rachel, Jarrod Molloy and Gary’s colleagues at the All Nations Hotel in Richmond, as well as Ross Abbey and the fantastic crew which is the Western Bulldogs Past Players, and Paul O’Connor. We’re thinking of you all, and of Gary.
Vale Gary Merrington.
A private family funeral will be held next week.
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About John Harms
JTH is a writer, publisher, speaker, historian. He is publisher and contributing editor of The Footy Almanac and footyalmanac.com.au. He has written columns and features for numerous publications. His books include Confessions of a Thirteenth Man, Memoirs of a Mug Punter, Loose Men Everywhere, Play On, The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story and Life As I Know It (with Michelle Payne). He appears (appeared?) on ABCTV's Offsiders. He can be contacted [email protected] He is married to The Handicapper and has three school-age kids - Theo, Anna, Evie. He might not be the worst putter in the world but he's in the worst four. His ambition was to lunch for Australia but it clashed with his other ambition - to shoot his age.
Lovely bloke.
Welcoming.
Inclusive.
Genial.
Gentle.
Affable.
Keen sense of humour.
Natural barman.
Well said JTH. Lovely words.
And your descriptive words too PJF.
I’m deeply saddened at Gary’s passing. Such a lovely bloke. He remembered your name. That is a skill and an art and a sign of care. I’ll miss him at the All Nations.
Sympathies to Bob and Dee snd Rachel and Jarrod and all Gary’s colleagues at the pub.
Might I suggest the front bar be re-named the Merrington Bar.
Just a thought.
RIP
Yes he was a good bloke and host. I came across him in the latter years at the All Nations and he was always up for a yarn. Early on I reckon he did a stint pulling beer in the Albert Hotel in Essex Street near the Whitten Oval on the hospital side of Footscray. It was the watering hole for West Footscray Footy Club when I was playing there and Charlie Sutton owned it.
The standard jibe at Chooka from the young local louts was ‘you only get your photo in the paper when someone takes the mark of the year on you’ He took it in the right spirit as the kids who were delivering it were rusted on Bulldogs supporters and I suspect pretty pleased that Gary acknowledged them and chatted to them.
Terrific bloke who lived without malice and you don’t play 176 games if you are a mug devoid of talent.
Absolutely fantastic fella big Gaz always on for a chat worked a little with him at the NFA and loved having a beer with him and talking footy mostly . Was shocked to hear of his sudden passing
Sincere Condolences to all the family and friends
Great man gone way to early but will be fondly remembered always
I agree with everything that has already been said here.
Sincere condolences to family and friends.
RIP Gary.
Played with Gary for 5 years at the Bulldogs. I am Bulldog 543 and Gary was 544. My jumper was no 18 and Gary was 19, so we were always side by side in the rooms. Terrific bloke, and my last trip to the past players spent the day with Gary. Last to leave, but a terrific day. So sad to hear of his passing.
Sad hearing this news. I have very fond memories of Gary working as a barman at Haskins. Always friendly, happy, with a smile, and a nice engaging chat. He always treated my step daughter well, making her feel welcome in this most adult of establishments: the pub. He gave her an autographed copy of the Footscray players celebrating their 1970 night premiership. Gary prominent in the photo. Unsure what she made of it, but that was Gary, a nice bloke.
I remember him from the footy cards, and of course playing full back for Footscray. The period from the late 60’s into the mid 70’s, when he held down the key defence post saw him cop some seriously difficult opponents. Peter Hudson, Peter McKenna, Doug Wade, Geoff Blethyn, and Alex Jesaualeno all kicked ‘tons’ in this time. There were also blokes like Alan Davis, Alex Ruscuklic, and Ricky McLean who were all able to play full forward with aplomb: Gary stood them all, no mean feat. I can’t recall if he was on Doug Wade when Wade brought up his ton at Kardinia Park in 1969, but I’m fairly certain he was on Peter Hudson when he kicked his 100 at Glenferrie Oval in 1971. These weren’t fun times for full backs but Gary always played his role.
If my old memory is working he had a brief spell in the VFA with the Burra’s before hanging up his boots. Now his boots are hung up for ever. A sad loss of a genuinely nice bloke. Vale Gary Merrington.
Glen!
So sad to hear of Gary’s passing.
Just recently he and his All Nations colleagues welcomed us warmly to a very enjoyable Almanac lunch with Ken Piesse.
Later in the day Gary finished his stint behind the bar and joined some of his mates and a few of us remaining Almanackers for a couple of palate cleansers. .With a bit of a twinkle in his eye he then shared one or two footy anecdotes. Gave us all a good chuckle.
A warm hearted lovely man. Vale Gary.
PS Glen! Gary was on Doug Wade when he reached 100 goals in 1969. I was lucky enough to be at that game. Not sure if he was on him all day but he certainly was late in the game at the city end of Kardinia Park where I was standing. Wade kicked eleven that day in a masterful display. Tough day for Gary!
Cheers, Burkie