"His agent threw a line in the water to see if anyone was interested," explained Merrick. "He had an offer from a German club and also Kilmarnock but little else.
"I think most coaches in the A-League thought it didn't sound right - and I didn't think it sounded right. A 22-year-old with more than 60 matches in the Dutch league, a graduate of the Ajax academy, who made his debut as an 18-year-old under Martin Jol - was there another side to the story?"
Merrick followed his nose. He watched "a dozen games" on tape and was impressed, then got positive feedback from two ex-coaches of Bonevacia, including former Oranje player Danny Blind. The Phoenix flew him to Wellington and Merrick was instantly impressed.
"As soon as I saw him, I thought we are on to a winner here," said Merrick. "So we signed him for two years straight away. I can't believe our luck in getting him."
Merrick's positivity is fully justified. Bonevacia has been in New Zealand for less than half a season but is already high up on the list of 'best ever Phoenix imports' and is one of the most technically accomplished players in the club's eight-year history. A defender or holding midfielder for most of his career, Bonevacia has shown his versatility by adapting quickly to a more attacking role under Merrick. He has a good range of passing, extremely quick feet and great vision.
"It's been much better than I expected," said Bonevacia. "At the beginning I thought, 'It's Australia, maybe it's not as good as everyone says'. And New Zealand is more known for rugby, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But everything is perfect; the team is great, the players are good ... I'm happy here."
As well as a lifestyle change for his young family, he has moved south to relaunch his career.
"[Coming to] New Zealand was a step to improve myself," said Bonevacia. "It was for people to see that I am good and I am growing now. In Europe, people can sometimes take you for granted. I came here to make myself important and put myself back on the map for clubs in Europe and everywhere."
Bonevacia was signed by Ajax as a 10-year-old and invited to their famed Amsterdam Academy.
"It was a dream come true," he said. "You hope to be a professional player and then they call and it's like, 'It's not happening'."
He spent almost a decade at the academy, which has produced many of the top Dutch players of the past decade.
"It's the best place for technique and possession play in the world," says Bonevacia. "And they have a school, they have houses, some of the best trainers in the world."
Bonevacia got his education but couldn't graduate with honours. He made just one first team appearance for Ajax and was loaned out to NAC Breda and Roda JC Kerkrade; respected clubs but not in the league of the Dutch powerhouses.
"The first six months, I was struggling every day," he said. "It was difficult. To come from a club where everything is at a top level and organised so well and go somewhere else, you think, 'I had this and now I am here' - it was hard to accept."
Bonevacia adapted, and had made almost 60 appearances in the Eredivisie before his move to Wellington. He has thrived in the capital and been at the forefront of the Phoenix's positive start to the season. Last week against Newcastle he set up all three goals in an impressive display and yesterday against Central Coast, even though he should have scored, was at the heart of most things the Phoenix did well at Eden Park.
Bonevacia is particularly pleased with his goal-scoring feats. "I've scored twice [already]; that is the first time in my whole career I have scored two times in a season" - and has also developed a dangerous combination with Albert Riera, Burns and McGlinchey.
"If players are good, they will click fast," said Bonevacia. "They understand the play, how you play, how you think. If a player is good, it will work out every time."
