fullname heightweight years birth_place article_title position statsend originalteam birth_date nickname guernsey image draftpick name
daniel merrett 195cm / 103kg 2005 -- adelaide , south australia , australia daniel merrett
 defender round 23 , 2014 southport -lrb- qafl -rrb- 12 december 1984 big sauce , strawbs , rodge 21 daniel merrett.jpg # 30 , 2002 national draft , daniel merrett
daniel merrett

daniel merrett -lrb- born 12 december 1984 -rrb- is an australian rules footballer in the australian football league and fullback for brisbane lions .
merrett was born in adelaide , but moved to the gold coast with his family at a young age .
a talented schoolboy rugby player for benowa state high school .
in an under 13 grand final between st michael 's carrara college and benowa high school in 1997 , young daniel had fate handed to him .
in an ill-timed tackle , he smashed his head on the knee of the great st michael 's second rower , nicholas braid .
he got 8 stitches in his head as a result of this mishap .
he was identified as a potential australian rules footballer by afl queensland junior development scouts due to his imposing frame and ball-handling skills , and was groomed as a key forward with the southport sharks .
he was recruited by the brisbane lions with the number 30 draft pick in the 2002 afl draft but took several years to develop sufficiently to make his debut in round 2 , 2005 against port adelaide .
daniel merrett is well known for his trade mark spoils and his long handball .
he is often compared to brisbane lions champion justin leppitsch .
he is no relation to former essendon and brisbane full forward roger merrett even though he does have a son named daniel .
