Background
Merrett was born in Adelaide, but moved to the Gold Coast with his family at a young age.
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, he was identified as a potential Australian rules football player by American Federation of Labor-Congress 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 American Federation of Labor-Congress Draft but took several years to develop sufficiently to make his debut in Round 2, 2005 against Portuguese Adelaide. He was identified as a potential Australian rules football player by American Federation of Labor-Congress 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 American Federation of Labor-Congress Draft but took several years to develop sufficiently to make his debut in Round 2, 2005 against Portuguese Adelaide.
Daniel Merrett is well known for his trade mark spoils and his long handball. He is no relation to former Essendon and Brisbane full forward Roger Merrett even though he does have a son named Daniel.
Daniel Merrett used to play as a full forward, centre half forward or half forward flank in his early career but now he regularly plays as a fullback. He was the defender with the most spoils in the 2007 season.