Ever heard of Thorold Merrett? Well, it’s high time you do because this Australian Football legend, born in the small town of Cobden, Victoria in 1933, is a testament to hard work, discipline, and sheer, raw talent. Merrett began his career in the VFL with the Collingwood Football Club in 1950 and wrapped it up in 1960—a decade that certainly cemented his status as a sports icon Down Under for steadfast folks who can appreciate true resilience.
Merrett’s career was anything but ordinary. Standing at just 5 feet 6 inches and weighing 66 kg, he was far from the typical athlete one might expect to dominate in a game of physical prowess. Yet, as conservatives well understand, it isn’t one’s size that determines greatness—it’s character, perseverance, and skill. With extraordinary speed and pinpoint accuracy, Merrett became known for his 'perfect drop-kick,' a style of kicking that has sadly seen a decline in the modern game favoring more manic and less strategic plays.
Born as the son of a railway worker, Thorold Merrett grew up in an environment that wouldn't spoil or falsely inflate egos. His upbringing is a quintessentially conservative dream - hard work paying off, a story believed by those who value meritocracy over the fancy ideals of forced equal outcomes. Merrett’s sheer dedication developed during his early days working in his family’s butchery. He learned discipline and built a character that would propel him forward in life and sport.
Career-wise, Merrett joined the Collingwood Football Club, the magpies, at a time when the VFL was gaining momentum. His career took off immediately as he made his debut at just 17 years old. He was quick to grab attention and was never afraid to put in the hard yards. It didn’t take long for Merrett to gain a name as one of the best wingmen, a notch above in athleticism and strategy. He played a key role in helping Collingwood reach finals for eight consecutive years from 1952 to 1959, claiming premierships in 1953 and 1958. Let’s remember these accomplishments aren't simply granted, they are earned through grit.
1958 was a defining year—one that saw him captaining the side to a premiership win, which undoubtedly goes down in history books as one of the greatest underdog stories in sports. If it were up to modern liberalism, they might suggest the team's success was a communal effort where nobody gets special acknowledgment—a stark contrast to reality. It's true that Thorold Merrett inspired individuality as he led by example on the field—a real athlete taking charge.
Perhaps it's Merrett’s off-field persona that really resonates with a more conservative-hearted base. When not dazzling on the field or perfecting his kicks, he was simply a man devoted to his family. He was vested in not just being a good player but being a good husband and father. Unlike some of today’s athletes, whose personal lives often play out as tributes to narcism, Merrett’s life outside of football was modest, further cultivating a lasting legacy.
During his career, he banked on strategy, discipline, and dead-eye kicking skills rather than relying on brute force. His ability to pick up the ball, assess the field, and show precise judgment in play would make Thorold an asset even in today’s fast-paced game. His accolades during his tenure include two Copeland Trophies for Collingwood’s Best and Fairest player in 1958 and 1959, and a spot on Victoria’s team for five consecutive years. Shouldn't these accolades earn him more chatter outside the Melbourne footy circles?
His retirement in 1960 wasn’t one for fanfare but was merely the culmination of a sporting career well appreciated by his contemporaries and those who admire honest sportsmanship. For Merrett, post-football life was embraced graciously, showing a sense of fulfillment far removed from the yearning for constant applause desired by many.
So why doesn’t the story of Thorold Merrett feature regularly in dialogues about sports excellence, especially from certain media outlets? Perhaps it’s because honoring an individual player who embodies old-school values doesn’t quite fit the modern narrative of conformity and group accolades commonly peddled today. Thorold Merrett, with his dedication and able leadership, represents something that makes today’s progressive circles uneasy—the celebration of the individual and the pursuit of excellence that can’t be easily distributed or diluted.
Indeed, honoring a career like Merrett’s doesn’t fit into the template of conceding to broader ideals without question. He stood out because he embraced his strengths, worked on his weaknesses, and accepted responsibility for his team. These are values synonymous with success, prosperity, and building communities that thrive on merit. Now that’s a lesson worth learning.
In the annals of Australian Rules Football, Merrett’s legacy endures—not because someone decided to make it so but because he earned it every step along the way. His career remains a sterling example of what one can achieve through sheer determination, precision, and that something old-fashioned—hard work.