BulldogBelle
28-03-2007, 09:23 PM
This hot off the press from the Age on our Robert Murphy.
*****
Murphy says his career is starting again
March 28, 2007 - 6:54PM
Murphy (http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Murphy-says-his-career-is-starting-again/2007/03/28/1174761557723.html)
Talented Western Bulldogs forward Robert Murphy will feel like a debutant when he runs out against Geelong on Sunday.
Murphy has been out of action with a knee injury since round nine last year, but after coming through a gruelling rehabilitation program and three practice matches, is a confirmed starter for round one.
The 110-gamer was excited to finally be back playing again and will be used in a variety of positions by coach Rodney Eade.
"It sort of feels like my career is going to be in two parts now, what happened then and now post (the injury)," Murphy said on Wednesday.
"It's been a pretty long road to get here."
Some solid full-contact work at training, followed by those three practice games has Murphy convinced the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee was fully recovered and ready to withstand the rigours of the AFL.
But even though he had the doctors' all-clear, the 25-year-old Murphy admitted there was still some hesitation and doubt in his mind the first time he put the knee under stress.
"Waiting to be tackled the first time was a bit nervy and I was a bit jumpy, so it was nice to get that out of the way," Murphy said.
"All that sort of stuff happened at training. By the time the games come around I was ready to go.
"Each week it feels like that side of it has got a lot better."
Eade said it will take some time before Murphy and ruck-forward Luke Darcy, who is also on the comeback trail from a knee injury, are back at their best.
"Coming back from a knee operation ... it takes a good 12 to 15 months until they are 100 per cent fully able to play at the level that they were before," Eade said on Wednesday.
"People have just got to bide a bit of time before they get back to where they were.
"It's as much the time out as much as the injury."
Murphy said the perfect game back would be to kick six goals and for the Bulldogs to have a win, but his expectations were more modest.
The Bulldogs' rise up the ladder last year generated plenty of excitement over summer and it is not just the fans who hope the club can go further in 2007 than their semi-final loss to West Coast last year.
The players also have high expectations and Murphy admitted he got well and truly caught up in the Bulldogs' surge into the finals in 2006.
"It was pretty disappointing not to be out there obviously, but to watch the guys got me out of my seat a couple of times," Murphy said.
"There's more internal excitement this year than any other where we feel like we're really building towards something and hopefully it's this year.
"There is pressure, but would you give up that pressure to be languishing down the ladder? I've been here for eight years and relishing the opportunity to play in some big games."
*****
Murphy says his career is starting again
March 28, 2007 - 6:54PM
Murphy (http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Murphy-says-his-career-is-starting-again/2007/03/28/1174761557723.html)
Talented Western Bulldogs forward Robert Murphy will feel like a debutant when he runs out against Geelong on Sunday.
Murphy has been out of action with a knee injury since round nine last year, but after coming through a gruelling rehabilitation program and three practice matches, is a confirmed starter for round one.
The 110-gamer was excited to finally be back playing again and will be used in a variety of positions by coach Rodney Eade.
"It sort of feels like my career is going to be in two parts now, what happened then and now post (the injury)," Murphy said on Wednesday.
"It's been a pretty long road to get here."
Some solid full-contact work at training, followed by those three practice games has Murphy convinced the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee was fully recovered and ready to withstand the rigours of the AFL.
But even though he had the doctors' all-clear, the 25-year-old Murphy admitted there was still some hesitation and doubt in his mind the first time he put the knee under stress.
"Waiting to be tackled the first time was a bit nervy and I was a bit jumpy, so it was nice to get that out of the way," Murphy said.
"All that sort of stuff happened at training. By the time the games come around I was ready to go.
"Each week it feels like that side of it has got a lot better."
Eade said it will take some time before Murphy and ruck-forward Luke Darcy, who is also on the comeback trail from a knee injury, are back at their best.
"Coming back from a knee operation ... it takes a good 12 to 15 months until they are 100 per cent fully able to play at the level that they were before," Eade said on Wednesday.
"People have just got to bide a bit of time before they get back to where they were.
"It's as much the time out as much as the injury."
Murphy said the perfect game back would be to kick six goals and for the Bulldogs to have a win, but his expectations were more modest.
The Bulldogs' rise up the ladder last year generated plenty of excitement over summer and it is not just the fans who hope the club can go further in 2007 than their semi-final loss to West Coast last year.
The players also have high expectations and Murphy admitted he got well and truly caught up in the Bulldogs' surge into the finals in 2006.
"It was pretty disappointing not to be out there obviously, but to watch the guys got me out of my seat a couple of times," Murphy said.
"There's more internal excitement this year than any other where we feel like we're really building towards something and hopefully it's this year.
"There is pressure, but would you give up that pressure to be languishing down the ladder? I've been here for eight years and relishing the opportunity to play in some big games."