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In today’s AFL briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
‘I was pretty close to giving it away’: Key Magpie’s turning point
Marc McGowan
Craig McRae’s overtly optimistic coaching style does not need a premiership on Saturday for vindication. In Nathan Murphy, there is already enough proof that it has paid off.
It might be hard to believe now that Murphy has established himself as the glue in a stifling Collingwood back line, but the former cricket prodigy feared for his football life barely a year ago.
An ankle dislocation and subsequent surgery sidelined him from the first eight rounds last season, continuing a wretched injury run, including a facial fracture and the well-documented string of concussions that ruined his 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Knowing he was out of contract at season’s end, negative thoughts about his playing future began flooding Murphy’s mind.
Nathan Murphy feared last year his AFL career might be coming to an end.Credit: AFL Photos
“At the start of last year, I probably didn’t think it was going to be like this for me, as in being in the position I’m in now,” Murphy told this masthead.
“I was injured again, I was out of contract, a new coaching group had come in, and I was honestly getting prepared for life after football.
Murphy is not afraid to get his hands dirty.Credit: Getty Images
“In terms of all the injuries, I was pretty close to giving it away, but I knew I needed to ride it out and give it a go. I was fortunate I came back in [to the senior side] only one week after returning from the injury, then it all just happened from there.”
There were extenuating circumstances for Murphy’s swift return to AFL ranks, with separate shoulder and finger issues making Jordan Roughead unavailable – and he retired soon after – while Charlie Dean (foot) was also out, and Mark Keane returned to Ireland.
But it is what McRae, defensive coach Brendon Bolton and others did from there that made all the difference.
“I’d always been a guy who’d been really confident at VFL level but probably just struggled to transition that confidence to AFL level. I think I got that because of this coaching group,” Murphy said.
“I had seven touches [against Fremantle, in his first game back last year], but I got talked about like I played one of the best games I’ve played. I think I finally felt valued for what I brought to the table.
“Knowledge of role and system is probably one of my strengths, and they really value that here, so that game was probably a big turning point for me – and when I realised, like, ‘I’m good enough to be here’, so I was really fortunate they gave me that opportunity.”
Murphy hopes to cap his career-best season with a Collingwood premiership on Saturday.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
Murphy doubled that disposal tally and gobbled up seven intercept marks the next week against arch-rivals Carlton. He was away.
Fast-forward to this week’s grand final, and the popular 23-year-old is enjoying a career-best season as the Pies’ serial pest down back, who does the dirty jobs that help make Darcy Moore, Nick Daicos and Jeremy Howe look good.
His importance to the club’s success is not lost on Scott Pendlebury, who said the defender had been “amazing for us”.
And Murphy’s football journey is only just getting started rather than coming to an abrupt and premature end, evidenced by him inking a fresh two-year deal in July 2022.
“I told ‘Darce’ he needed to get a second All-Australian blazer printed for me. I’ve also told Nick that,” Murphy joked, before breaking into laughter.
“I love my role, honestly. I think I’ve always enjoyed kind of just being behind the curtains a bit, and seeing other boys do really well. Unfortunately, I’ve had a few moments this year, where I’ve probably been in the media a bit too much for my liking, just from being a pest.
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“But I get a kick out of seeing other boys doing really well. I believe that if they’re doing well; I’m playing some part in that. I don’t have the best skills in the comp, and I’m not the guy who’s going to have 20-odd touches, but I’m a guy who gets valued for bringing his strengths, and for me, it’s just given me so much belief.”
Those moments Murphy referenced included striking suspensions dished out to opponents Anthony Caminiti and Willie Rioli after being driven to frustration.
There was also a non-call at a critical time in the last quarter of the Magpies’ come-from-behind win over Adelaide in round seven, which the AFL later admitted was wrong, when Darcy Fogarty cannoned into Murphy and left him with a broken, bloodied nose.
They are unlikely to be the last times Murphy attracts attention, but he is more focused on completing Collingwood’s mission at the MCG this weekend. “Last year was a really interesting one, never having experienced finals [before], but we were just on such a crazy ride that it actually all is a bit of a blur,” Murphy said.
“We kind of came from nowhere and went on this big run ... but we were still probably hoping that it would work out, whereas this year, I think there’s a lot more belief that we can do it, just because we’ve had that year under the belt, had that year with the new system, and we trained really strongly in the pre-season.
“I also think we’re handling the finals hype a lot better, which is really exciting.”
Ratten returns to Hawks in coaching mentor role
Marc McGowan
Brett Ratten will return to Hawthorn as the head of coaching performance and development to support Sam Mitchell in Mitchell’s third year as senior coach.
Two sources at Hawthorn with knowledge of the appointment, who were not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed to this masthead that Ratten would be back at the club where he served as an assistant under Alastair Clarkson for the three-peat of premierships from 2013-15.
Ratten was previously a senior coach at Carlton and St Kilda and has just finished up in an interim role at the Kangaroos, where he coached while Clarkson took a break to focus on his physical and mental wellbeing in May.
Brett Ratten has joined the Hawks.Credit: AFL Photos
Ratten coached 10 games during that period, taking his total matches coached tally to 198.
Melbourne and Richmond were other clubs in the running for Ratten’s services, with new Tigers coach Adem Yze indicating publicly he was hopeful of adding Ratten to his staff. Ratten, a premiership player with Carlton, developed a strong relationship with Mitchell during his time at Hawthorn previously.
The Hawks confirmed Ratten’s appointment in a statement released on Wednesday morning, and football manager Rob McCartney said Ratten’s vast experience would be invaluable for a young side on the rise.
“We’re thrilled to bring someone of Brett’s calibre into our program. He will play a key role in mentoring and developing our coaching staff,” McCartney said.
“With his experience, expertise, and immense football IQ, we believe Brett will make an immediate impact both on and off the field.
“On top of his obvious coaching skill set, Brett is a fantastic person with great perspective, who will no doubt have a positive influence on our culture and provide great mentorship for everyone across our program.”
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Ratten said he was keen to look for a role where he could have an impact both on and off the field after his departure from North.
“I am really confident about the direction Hawthorn has taken in developing a young list on the way back to contending for premiership success, it is one of the main reasons why I choose to return to the Hawks,” Ratten said.
“There is a great group of coaches and football staff at the club, and I am really keen to get to work in the pre-season and help set the club up for a big 2024.”
Hawthorn’s first- to fourth-year players will return for the start of pre-season training from Monday, November 13, while the remainder of the list will return on Monday, November 27.
