Marc MURPHY

2017 Digest:   Underrated leader whose absence due to bad ankle injury correlated with team’s regression in back half of last season.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1	Rich	Skipper's effort was there from start to finish - eight clearances, six inside-50s and seven tackles.	8
2	Melb	Excellent ball winner all day in the middle of the ground and pushed forward to hit the scoreboard. Led from the front.	8
3	Ess	Gave great drive in the middle and was able to match the work of Watson and Heppell which was a key.	8
4	GCS	Started in great fashion with plenty of ball, but then found it hard to get clear room through the middle. Finished well enough.	7
5	Port	Missed an easy chance in the first term when his team needed him to hit the scoreboard.	6
6	Syd	Skipper battled hard for 31 touches (14 contested), five clearances and five inside-50s.	8
7	Coll	The old-style rover’s game, 30 possessions at 83% efficiency as a link man.	7
8	StK	Huge second term where he booted two great goals. Like a lot of his teammates tired late.	7
9	Frem	Never stopped working in the midfield. Had 32 touches, seven clearances and one goal.	8
10	NM	With Gibbs and Cripps was part of a midfield that kept his side in the contest early. Never stopped trying and led well.	7
11		Bye.
12	GWS	Skipper worked tirelessly for his team but impact not indicative of a 30-possession day. One tackle and four inside-50s.	7
13	GCS	Good across all four quarters. Used handball to release his team mates into space.	7
14	Rich	Handy ball winner in midfield battle. Caused some problems running into space, but late run-down was end of Blues hopes.	7
15	Adel	Laid nine tackles and had five inside-50’s, but didn’t hurt Adelaide enough with footy in hand.	6
16	Melb	Skipper busted his boiler all day to win plenty of pill; 35 touches, four clearances and four inside-50s.	8
17	WB	Skipper racked up 26 possessions, three inside-50s and four tackles but he wasn’t a dominant force.	7
18	Bris	Big four quarters especially when some of his well-credentialed teammates went missing. Easily Carlton’s best.	7
19	Geel	Busy as a sailor on a four-hour leave pass at times but 24 disposals didn’t amount to much. Six tackles.	6
20	Ess	Skipper was enormous with 32 disposals, nine clearances, seven inside-50s and 17 contested possessions.	8
21	WCE	Fantastic midfield performance. He kicked two goals and had 29 disposals. Led his team well.	8
22	Haw	Didn’t always use it well but was still significant with a team high 34 touches. Big last term and too nimble for Howe.	8
23	Syd	Found the pill 32 times, and ran hard offensively, but the 1 tackle by the skipper wasn’t enough. Needed to be stronger.	6

2016 Season

1	Rich	Big first term goal and found space well to be an influential performer in midfield.	7
2	Syd	Not as prevalent as previous week. Overpowered by Swans midfield power.	6
3	GCS	Not damaging with the footy but battled away across the contest.	5
4	WB	Skipper was having a howler until concussion ended his night in third term.	2
5	Frem	Led by example and put the Blues in front late with a goal.	8
6	Ess	When side needed someone to step up late in the game he was the man. Key to victory.	8
7	Coll	Greenwood paid close attention but worked hard for his team.	6
8	Port	Copped a few heavy knocks which threw him off his game but played part in middle.	6
9	NM	Only two touches in first term. Lifted but still a sub-par evening.	5
10	Geel	Injured in opening term and did not return. Early goal got side going.	1
11		Ankle.
12		Ankle.
13		Ankle.
14		Ankle.
15		Ankle.
16		Ankle.
17		Ankle.
18		Ankle.
19		Ankle.
20		Ankle.
21		Ankle.
22		Ankle.
23		Ankle.

2015 Season

1	Rich	Couldn’t find space to cause damage although he kept plugging away.	5
2	WCE	Good first quarter then couldn’t sustain. Only one inside-50s and two clearances.	5
3	Ess	Got going after a quiet first half to be among the best. Seven inside-50s.	7
4	StK	Won plenty of ball despite close attention from Newnes.	7
5	Coll	Worked hard but gets too little support around the ball.	6
6	Bris	Two first-half goals but hardly what you’d call a captain’s game.	5
7	GWS	Beaten comprehensively by Coniglio in head to head duel.	5
8	Geel	Skipper set the tone by laying one tackle and the rest followed.	4
9		Calf.
10	Adel	Couldn’t have done much more. Six clearances and ball use first rate.	8
12	Port	Ten clearances, 11 inside-50s and 15 CPs a fine afternoon’s work.	9
13	GCS	Key player in the victory, particularly after half time when he dominated.	8
14	WB	Led from the front in midfield with 25 touches and seven tackles.	7
15	Rich	Battled away for three clearances, four tackles, eight contested possessions.	6
16	Frem	Fought hard all night for his 29 disposals.	7
17	Haw	Battled super hard to lead team in an unforgettable 200th game.	7
18	NM	Tagged by Jacobs and did well to break free until slowing up late.	7
19	Coll	10 inside 50s to go with 36 touches and two goals. Monster effort.	8
20	Bris	Relished not having a hard tag but almost half his disposals were ineffective.	6
21	Melb	Industrious effort until dislocated shoulder in third term and day done.	6
22		Shoulder.
23		Shoulder.

2014 Season

1	Port	13 touches to half time but not damaging. Tagged by Cornes. Tapered.	5
2	Rich	Turned it over a bit in first half, but still kept plugging away	7
3	Ess	Tagged out of it by Hocking but kept battling. Eight tackles and three inside-50s.	6
4	Melb	Tagged by N.Jones. Appears to be really struggling with captaincy.	4
5	WB	Tagged by Wallis who copped attention. Excellent after leadership questioned.	8
6	WCE	Maintained the form from the previous week and had a big final term.	8
7	Coll	Would not be subdued by Macaffer early but then found it harder.	6
8	StK	Fine performance headlined by six inside-50s and some excellent ball use.	8
10	Adel	Pretty well held by Kerridge. Just two inside-50s and three clearances.	6
11	Bris	A shining light and left to do too much on his own.	8
12	Geel	Quiet first half thanks to Guthrie tag. Lifted to grab 13 second-half disposals.	6
13	Haw	Buzzed all over the place for five clearances, 11 contested possessions.	7
14		Hamstring.
15	Coll	Macaffer tag seemed to frustrate the skipper and he wasn’t a big factor.	5
16	StK	Showed the way and was industrious around the field. Very good second half.	7
17	Syd	Not for the first time, he vied with Gibbs for Carlton's best.	8
18	NM	Solid consistent game in midfield.	6
19	Frem	Crowley his shadow in a feisty duel. One miraculous goal – 18 cont poss.	7
20	GCS	Productive afternoon by skipper. Put himself in the action with 28 touches.	8
21	Geel	Despite Guthrie tag he won hard balls and was a force.	6
22	Port	His head hit the ground in a marking contest and was subbed out with concussion.	2
23		Concussion.
QF		-
SF		-
PF		-
GF		-

2013 Season

1	Rich	Only eight disposals in first half. Missed tackle cost a goal in third. Kept battling.	6
2	Coll	Important cog in midfield and kept legs ticking over.	7
3	Geel	Thrashed by Taylor Hunt in first half but hit back to grab 15 second-half disposals.	6
4	WCE	Copped leg injury just before half time but kept battling – laid nine tackles.	7
5	Adel	Finding some form after a quiet start to the year. Ran hard and laid seven tackles.	7
6	Melb	Tagged well at times but still found time for three goals and five inside-50s.	6
7	StK	Appeared to injure foot early and in combination with Geary tag he was quiet.	4
8	Port	Three quality goals and led from the front. A good four quarter performance.	8
9	Bris	Rarely far from the action and one of the Blues’ prime movers all night.	7
10	GWS	Quiet afternoon from the skipper – found Shiels a hard nut to crack.	5
11	Ess	Plenty of the ball in first term. Tapered at the end.	7
12	Haw	Sickening clash with Hodge ended his night late in first term. Had started well.	1
14		Cheekbone.
15	Coll	Rushed back. Certainly looked like it early but had 13 second-half disposals.	5
16	StK	Jones applied a tight clamp on him. Tightened in hammy at one stage	5
17	NM	Started well despite pre-game doubt over hammy. Strong finish.	6
18	GCS	Ran hard and is working back to his best form.	7
19	Frem	Howler. Blanketed by Crowley and made some very poor defensive efforts.	2
20	WB	Tagged by Wallis and whilst his workrate was better, still wasn’t at his best.	6
21	Rich	Worked hard in the midfield and found some much needed form.	7
22	Ess	Had his moments but another who failed to deliver when it mattered.	6
23	Port	Three clutch goals when the captain needed to stand up.	8
EF	Rich	Busy early and kept gathering touches. On bench start of final term.	7
SF	Syd	Won touches but wasn’t given any space to do damage.	5
PF
GF

2012 Season

1	Rich	Big second half when he really came into his own.	7
2	Bris	Beams couldn’t stop him. 30 deft possessions and a brilliant goal.	8
3	Coll	Potent tandem with Judd in midfield. His 39 touches said it all.	9
4	Ess	Slightly down on previous weeks but kept working hard.	7
5	Frem	Helped settle the side early and always a presence around the ball.	7
6	GWS	Didn’t play with the intensity he can. Impact didn’t match stat numbers.	6
7	StK	Hard Jones tag was tough to shake. Well down on normal output.	4
8	Adel	Getting beaten by Van Berlo then injured shoulder in bump with Dangerfield.	1
16	NM	Still know where the ball is in his return. Little rusty in kicking at first.	5
17	WB	Not as prolific as normal, but didn’t waste many of his 21 possessions.	6
18	Rich	Came into game late in first term and then a force. Dominant in last term.	8
19	Syd	On the end of heavy bump from Roberts Thomson, but still was handy.	6
20	Bris	Shadowed by Raines but still managed to have an impact. Seems to be sore.	7
21	Ess	Huge influence – seven clearances, six tackles, five inside-50s.	8
22	GCS	Got plenty of the footy and tried all night.	7
23	StK	Well held by Montagna for most of the day.	5