A big hand for Robert Murphy

RETIRING Western Bulldogs legend Robert Murphy says missing last year’s Grand Final triumph left a hole in his heart — but he insists there’s still a chance to make up for that. But first, the Doggies need to make the finals. Murphy retires with more than 300 games, and was joined yesterday by Hawks star Josh Gibson.

RETIRING Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy says missing last year’s premiership left a hole in his heart, but he insists there’s still hope of a fairytale finish this season.

Murphy will end his 17-year AFL career at the end of the season. The ninth-placed Bulldogs need to win their remaining two games to guarantee a finals berth.

“If I’m not a premiership player, there’ll be a sense of emptiness there,” he said yesterday. “But I gave it everything I had and I still have enormous pride in last year’s premiership. But to not be one of the 22, there’s a bit of a hole in my heart there, for sure.”

Murphy said while his side had been patchy this season, the team still had a few more cards to play in this hand.

“There’s still a lot of optimism and spirit in this footy team and footy club,” Murphy said. “I think there’s something very unique about this side that Luke [Beveridge] coaches.

“A lot of that’s to do with Luke himself.

“I think our best as a footy team is some of the best footy I’ve ever seen, so we just live in hope we can find the cogs to make it click again.”

While lauding Murphy’s contribution, Beveridge was quick to point out the season was far from over.

“It is emotional, but I have said to the players, it is not a time for tributes. I am making one at the moment [but] there is time for that at the end of the year, but we’ve got some time to go,” Beveridge said.

Murphy, 35, said he “probably retired three times last year and just didn’t tell the rest of the world”, but he decided to play on. “Every time I went out to play, I felt like I had something left, and I could still do it.

I was confident enough or arrogant enough to think I could still do it and there was just something inside of me just burning,” he said.

“When I got to the halfway point this year and my body was really letting me know that I couldn’t go again, that was relief, that wasn’t a moment of self-pity or sadness, that was kind of, I feel like I have paid a debt to something but I can go no further — that gives me some satisfaction.”

He still hasn’t watched last year’s breakthrough flag, which he missed after injuring his knee in Round 3 last year.

“When I do watch it one day it will be emotional and it will be the ache that I didn’t have my footy boots on,” Murphy said.

“But also that there is no bigger Bulldogs supporter than me and I think you inherit a club’s mission when you arrive at a footy club.”