He said he went from having to be chased down the field by the doctor to get him off the ground after a heavy hit to rule himself out of a grand final in the quarters despite passing the concussion test . He admitted to seeing double at half-time when Craig McRae addressed the players and was ruled out.
“Honestly, it's very hard when you start in this team and you get a blow to the head that puts you out for 14 days, but this is much bigger than football. This is your health. This is your future. It's great that we take it so seriously,” said Murphy. “Relying on the pros is the big thing. I've been blessed to have some of the best people [at Collingwood] guiding me”.
A shaken Nathan Murphy before being substituted for the 2023 grand final.Credit: Paul Rovere
Murphy spent the off-season with defensive backs coach Jordan Roughead and conditioning coach Jarrod Wade trying to find ways to return to the game after the AFL gave him the go-ahead to continue playing in December. Murphy and his parents, Deborah and Shaun, met with the Collingwood board to ensure all parties were aware of the risk before this decision was announced.
At the time, he was gearing up for a big comeback, telling a Jan Juc Surf Club fundraiser at Torquay Golf Club on January 4 that he had faced the possibility of retirement, but he was relieved to be given permission to play.
But as the season approached he knew it would be impossible to reduce the risk of further head knocks to an acceptable level and admitted he was “not in the right frame of mind” to restart his career.
“I didn't want to lose that trademark that I had as a player and there were things we altered, but in the end we did what we could and medicine [panel] he decided that for me,” Murphy said.
Murphy said he has no regrets about the sometimes reckless way he played the game, running back on the fly to score and attack ground balls, or the way the decision was made.
“I don't think I would have had a game to be honest if I hadn't played the way I did. I was a guy who couldn't kick and handball soccer, so I had to do those things to get on the team,” Murphy said.
“The best thing was that the boys and the coaches rewarded them and were very grateful for what I brought to the team. I felt very valued, which is all you really want as a footballer and as a person
“It's a weight off my shoulders. The panel was great at recommending things to help me through this process…it's not all doom and gloom.”
Murphy is the second AFL player to retire early after suffering concussion in last year's finals series, without having played another game. Melbourne's Brayshaw retired in February on medical advice, five months after being knocked out in the qualifying final. Murphy said Brayshaw's decision did not affect his case.
Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy comforts Angus Brayshaw as he leaves the ground after being tackled in the qualifying final.Credit: Paul Rovere
Murphy took every precaution after the grand final incident, including not drinking alcohol during the grand final celebrations: “This is just a game of football. We wake up the next day, whatever happens, and the life still goes on.”
Murphy is studying teaching and environmental science and his girlfriend Rose has joined him in Melbourne. He also owns a cafe in Hawthorn called Whiplash with Roughead and other friends. His parents, girlfriend Rose and one of his two sisters, Jessica, were in Collingwood for the announcement.
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“It's been an amazing journey and I'm so grateful for everything, but I feel like this is the right decision for my future,” Murphy said.
The Magpie will be eligible for a career-ending injury payout and the Magpies have also agreed financial terms with Murphy, who was potentially set to sign a multi-year deal before the latest concussion.
Football manager Brendon Bolton said the club was open-minded to Murphy having a role within the club and confirmed an agreement had been reached.
“I'd rather not get into the detail of the contract status and all those scenarios, but ultimately our club will be here to support 'Murph,'” Bolton said.
Murphy played 57 games for Collingwood, including the 2023 flag as a vital component of the Magpies' defense alongside skipper Darcy Moore and big-flyer Jeremy Howe. He was the 39th pick in the 2017 national draft.
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