He played in the second semi-final win over Hawthorn, but he was a late withdrawal on Grand Final day due to a leg injury.
Neagle was offered a rural coaching position in 1989, but chose to remain as a player with Sydney.
[8] Neagle died when the trailer of the B-double truck he was driving flipped over and crushed the cabin at Tharbogang, near Griffith, New South Wales.
Merv was a very tenacious, hard-running player and his courage and toughness were typical of Essendon teams of that era.
He also gave a lot back to country football after he retired, and along with Tim Watson was one of the finest players to come out of Dimboola.