They were lofty heights for one so young but Mercuri never played football for plaudits. He almost despises the trimmings that go with being one of the stars in Australia’s greatest game. ""I don’t mind people knowing my name but not my face. If your face is well known you have people coming up to you all the time. I don’t mind that but I really prefer anonymity."" Mercuri told the Australian in 1999.

But Mercuri’s reticence to become a public figure isn’t born out of arrogance or a lack of motivation. ""I like to stay private – I don’t need anyone to know about my life outside football. I reckon you can become a bit insular with football and forget what life is really about. I want to be successful. When I look back I want to be proud of what I have done but I basically want to be the best person I can be to the people who are closest to me,"" he told the Sunday Herald Sun.

Shoulder, groin and quadricep problems dogged him at different times over the next five seasons but Mercuri was still one of the most prodigious talents in the game. He was selected for Victoria on three occasions during this period but there was still a feeling among Bomber fans that the best was still to come.

And come it did. Mercuri was without peer in 1999. He averaged more than 20 quality possessions per game and kicked 32 goals He finished runner-up in the Brownlow Medal, dominated Crichton Medal voting and was selected in the All-Australian side. The only thing missing from season 1999 was a Grand Final berth – something Mercuri almost pinched for the Bombers in the dying seconds of the preliminary final against Carlton. But no one person pointed the finger at the Essendon vice-captain; without his brilliance the Bombers may not have even been there. Mercuri and h is teammates went some way to erasing the disappointment of 1999 with a record-breaking 2000.

If you were advertising the game of Australian Rules overseas, Mercuri would be a prime candidate to play the leading role. Mercuri in full flight is as good as it gets.

Mark Mercuri – the facts:
Born: 21/2/1974
Recruited from: Keilor Park / EFC under-19s
First EFC game: v Carlton, Rd 10 1992
EFC games: 199
EFC goals: 239
Premierships: 1993 and 2000
EFC honours: Best and fairest 1999, runner-up best and fairest 1996, best team man 1993, grand final appearance 1993, 2000 and 2001, night premiership appearances 1993, 1994 and 2000.
Other honours: AFL rising star nominee 1993, All-Australian 1999, runner-up Brownlow Medal 1999, Michael Tuck Medal 2000