2023 Collingwood premiership player Nathan Murphy succumbed to the after-effects of concussions (including his 10th in the 2023 Grand Final) and announced his retirement. He is only 24 years old. Earlier in the year, he stepped away from the club in an attempt to recover and return to play. However, on advice from the medical concussion panel, he has decided to retire. In making the announcement, he said, “I feel it is the right time and the right decision for me to hang up my footy boots. I love my football, but my priority is on my future and ensuring I live a full and healthy life. I’d like to thank the Club, coaches, teammates, staff, and the Magpie Army for all their support throughout my playing career and for allowing me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream of playing AFL. To my family and friends, I couldn’t have gone through this journey without your continued love and support which I am so grateful for. It is not lost on me how fortunate I am to have been able to experience premiership success ... I hope I did the jumper proud and thank the many people and supporters who helped me along the way. I will forever cherish the memories and friends I’ve made ...”.
An all-round talent, Murphy was a promising cricketer, representing Australia at junior level before focusing on footy. Murphy was drafted by Collingwood in 2017 and played 57 games for the Pies. He battled injuries in 2019 but bounced back strongly in 2020, winning the VFL best and fairest that year. The 2021 and 2022 seasons saw Murphy play 15 and 16 games, respectively, before solidifying his role in the senior side in 2023, a campaign which saw him play 24 AFL matches including the 2023 Grand Final. Across his footy career, he reportedly had 10 concussions. His retirement is yet another reminder at the toll concussions are taking on Aussie rules players. The AFL and AFLPA have not commented on the situation.
General Manager Brendon Bolton thanked Murphy for his contribution to Collingwood, “... we thank Nathan for his contribution ... and commend him on the maturity he has shown ... Nathan will be remembered as a player who showed sheer courage on the field. His one-on-one efforts and ability to intercept and spoil were second to none. In the backline, Murph had an outstanding ability to read the game, lead, and direct teammates ... A fun and light-hearted character, Nathan also showed great generosity which is what made him a much-loved member of our club. Away from the field, he made significant contributions within the community space from community coaching to the working in his café ... a credit goes to Nathan’s resilience and perseverance to come back and perform to a high standard on many occasions ...".
Source: Tash Lewis, Collingwood Media Release
Article last changed on Sunday, April 21, 2024 - 6:19 PM EDT
