Full Name: MERV KEANE
Date of Birth: 29/07/1953
Height: 185 cm ( 6-1 )
Weight: 83 kg ( 13-1 )
Guernsey: 18/40/54
Debut: 27/05/1972, Round 9, Fitzroy
Last Game: 01/09/1984, Round 22, Melbourne
RICHMOND SENIORS
Seasons: 1972-84
Total Games: 238
Total Goals: 36
Honours: Premiership 1973-74, 1980, VFL Representative Team Games 2.
RICHMOND RESERVES
Seasons: 1971-73, 1976-77, 1979-1980
Total Games: 42
Total Goals: 21
Honours: Premiership 1971
BIOGRAPHY
Mervyn played mainly in the back-pocket or as a half-back although he did ruck-rove very successful in Richmond’s last Premiership win. He had the ability to nullify big-name opponents by persisting with close checking and spoiling tactics. He was a very reliable defender who was a strong mark, good kick and a fine team man. He played in an are where Richmond had many big names; however, he could always be relied upon for a consistent performance. He has great poise and it was very rare to see him beaten over four quarters, by an opponent. He nearly finished up playing for Melbourne after coming down from the country, when he joined a group of aspiring footballers he thought were young Richmond hopefuls on a training run. To his horror, he discovered they were Melbourne players when they returned to the MCG rather than Punt Road. This was one of the few times he lost his bearing whilst at Richmond.
He was slowly eased into senior football with seven of his eight games being as a reserve. He was a member of the 1973, 1974 and 1980 Senior and 1971 Reserves’ Premiership sides and the 1982 Grand Final team, and also represented Victoria on two occasions. He played in 15 Finals’ games for the club and was voted Richmond’s best player in the thrilling 1973 preliminary final victory. In 1982, he won the club’s Most Determined Trophy. A hard track worker Mervyn put in countless hours trying to improve all facets of his game. He was awarded Life Membership of the Richmond Football Club in 1981. After 14 seasons with Richmond he moved to Sturt where he coached for four seasons.
He returned to Melbourne in 1989 where he coached the Essendon Reserves for three seasons. He then coached the Western Jets in the Victorian State League Under/18 Competition for three seasons and in 1995 he took charge of one of the new sides, the Calder Cannons. In 1996, he is coaching Williamstown. A former industrial officer he now runs his own stationary business. In 1994 he returned to Richmond to work on a Players Welfare Committee along with several other former greats. Mervyn’s brother, Paul, played with Richmond’s Seconds and Thirds before transferring to VFA Club Camberwell.
PRE RICHMOND
Wycheproof U/16 1968-69 ( Honours - Best & Fairest 1968-69 ) ; Wycheproof Seniors 1970, Games 18 ( Honours - Best & Fairest 1970 ).
POST RICHMOND
Sturt Coach 1985-88, Games 20, Goals 1 ; Essendon Reserves Coach 1989-91 ; Western Jets U/18 Coach 1992-94 ; Calder Cannons 1995.