Merv MacGrotty

This weeks “blast from the past” #4 is the son of the legendary Mr Cannington, Merv MacGrotty.
From the records I have, of which many are missing from the 1970s, Merv played in 231 games from 1967 to 2006. Merv was a great leg spinner and a very good top order batsman. He was mostly known as Papa Smurf or Donahue along with some other colourfull names and was a brilliant fielder.
Merv played most of his career in 1st grade playing 170 games in firsts, the most by any player in the club’s history. Merv played in 5 Grand Finals, winning 2. With the bat he made 4184 runs at an average of 21.46 with 2 centuries and 13 fifties. With the ball Merv took 235 wickets at an average of 21.34 with his best return of 6/45 vs Willetton in 1982.
Merv’s highlight came in 1994/95 vs Kelmscott playing 2nd grade where he made his first century, being 127.
Merv was made a life member of the Tigers in 1988 and his wife Lyn in 1999. Merv also coached the club for many years and has always been a true blue Tiger.
Please share your stories about Merv below…

Robyn Stanik Well were to start

☺

Paul McLean I remember catching practise when hit towards you you had to make sure to be ready as they were not soft lol

😁

Mark Richards Yeah I remember those, he nearly broke a few ankles.

Paul Tompsett Everyone who was there does. Scary as hell but great fun. Funny how us blokes love to laugh at others pain

😂

Lyn Mac I remember l stayed home the day he made the 127. Having to be married on the 1st april between cricket and hockey. Remember a spectacular catch whole body in the air where he caught keepie out while subbing for thornlie.

Mark Richards I recall that catch. We gave Merv heaps for that one. He was always volunteering to sub against us.

Lyn Mac Ah yep did come with a lot of verbalising but damn was a gorgeous catch

Lyn Mac Well done ritcho..

Alan James Walters Merv was the consummate professional and a hard task master, but he would never ask any more than he was prepared to offer himself. Shame I did not get to play more games with the silver fox, hands down the best fielder the club has seen. Well done mate.

Paul Keep Playing cricket at Cannington was a lot different than my old club rivervale Cannington always made you feel welcome part of a unique family nothing like my old club and the there was Merv ran me out in my first game called for a quick single and peopl…See More

Paul Keep In addition Merv was very good a the game we love respected by opposition players umpires and team mates learnt a lot from him but don’t tell him that

Lyn Mac I aint telling him

Paul Tompsett I like the man. Hard as nails with a dry wit that burst from nowhere. Great to play the game with but not so much when he kept subby- ing for opposition. 2 laps before you could start training, break finger catching practice and where did that idea of running between wickets after batting practice come from??? Cheers to you Merv