PERRY Meredith reckons he might not have been allowed to celebrate Christmas with his grandparents if he had ever pulled on a CYMS jersey.
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As the grandson of Macquarie legend Barry Perry, he is probably right.
The 20-year-old was heading towards being a Fishie when he linked with St John’s during his junior days but a switch to PCYC in the under-16s ensured he ended up wearing blue.
Playing in the back row, Meredith has been one of the first players picked by Raiders captain-coach Jade Williams this season and continued his strong form in the Raiders’ 44-12 win over Narromine at No.1 Oval last Sunday.
“If I’d ended up playing with CYMS I don’t think Pop would have had me over for Christmas so it was always going to be Macquarie,” Meredith said
“It’s turned out pretty good. Pop and the rest of the family come to watch every week so that’s nice.”
“We haven’t lost a game yet. We couldn’t ask for much more than that but I think all the other sides are probably gunning for us now.”
Meredith, now in his second year of first grade, played hooker for the Raiders in their 2010 under-18s premiership-winning side and along with Mason Williams has made the quick progression from that side into senior football.
He hasn’t grown much in stature since then but he has impressed everyone with his ferocious tackling and running which has been a feature of Macquarie’s unbeaten run so far in 2012.
“He probably shows a lot of the bigger blokes how it’s done,” Jade Williams said.
“If a guy like Kinni sees ‘Pez’ putting blokes on their arse I think it fires him up to try and do the same.
“He’s not real big but he just digs in and goes hard.”
A competitor on the field, Meredith is also keen on the training paddock.
So keen in fact, he is involved in a running battle with fellow back-rower Zac Rennick when it comes to fitness. It’s a battle which amuses both the coach and the players.
“Perry hates being beaten and so does Zac so they push each other pretty hard at training.
“It’s quite funny actually,” Williams said.
“If Zac is in front he looks back and yells at Perry and that fires him up, and vice versa.”
Meredith admits he thrives on his constant battles with Rennick.
“Zac loves telling everyone that he is fitter than me and he does go alright for an old bloke,” Meredith said.
“But I think I probably have him. My legs are a bit younger and a bit quicker.”
