Farewell to footballing greats one last time
ONE is famous for being the ultimate big game player.
The other is famous for not playing in a big game.
Equally loved for different reasons, Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge, 33, and Western Bulldogs’ Robert Murphy, 35 will play last games tonight at opposite ends of Etihad Stadium.
Hodge’s 305th game comes after four flags, two Norm Smith Medals, two best-and-fairests and three All-Aussie gongs.
Murphy’s 312th game comes after two All-Australian caps and a level of popularity enjoyed by only a special few.
Players miss Grand Finals all the time, but Murphy in 2016 was different. Different because the Dogs had won only one flag – in 1954 – and different because Murphy had been the ship in stormy seas at the Whitten Oval as a 17-season constant.
Cruelly, while his teammates lived the fairytale, the injured Murphy lived the nightmare he never deserved.
“It’s going to be a pretty emotional night,” Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said of tonight’s clash.
“Let’s live in the real world. There’s a very, very slim chance we can make finals now so it’s potentially (Matthew Boyd) and Bob’s last game for the club at AFL level.
“We know the tremendous service both have given our club and both have been quite decorated in their careers. Obviously Hawthorn will be quite similar with Hodgey finishing up and it’s a bit unfortunate we don’t get to see Josh Gibson play one more time.”