Bob Murphy: courage comes in many forms

[The bulldog tragician]

Bob's latest is just wonderful.

When I was 18, in one of my first training sessions at Footscray, I led out in a simple lane work drill and the ball hit my hand awkwardly, jarring my finger. I dropped it, grimaced, and probably swore before moping to the back of the line to lick my wounds.

There I heard Tony Liberatore snarl under his breath: "You've got nine more!" It was the sort of comment that falls in your mind like a seed to the dirt.

Over time, and with the help of a few earthy elements, the seed begins to grow. I still think about it, even now as a 31-year-old, when I hurt myself during training or a game. Not the exact quote perhaps, but the spirit of where it came from. Toughen up, get on with the job.

You can't get comfortable playing in the AFL, and last week showed me that again. The game against the Tigers was a pretty intense affair; we were striving for our first win of the year, and they are a serious team who gave us two thumpings last year.

To win, we needed all hands on deck, a contribution from everyone. If we had a couple go missing, we would probably lose. That's how it is for a team coming from 15th on the ladder.*!

At some stage early in the game, our big full-back Jordan Roughead went down and looked sore. I didn't see him get hurt, but I thought I could see him holding his stomach and in pain. I also know that Roughy is as tough as they come, so if he was staying down, he would have good reason to.

The ball was still in our defensive area and we were on high alert, so despite his ailment I told him bluntly: "I need you for a couple of minutes, Rough."

One of the hard things about footy is that there is barely a stop in play, no time-outs. You have to organise each other on the fly. Messages between teammates tend to be swift, direct and sometimes harsh.

As the afternoon went on and the game ebbed and flowed, I could sense that my big teammate was having a pretty tough day. At one of the breaks he was behind me vomiting, or at least trying to vomit. "Must've been a nasty one in the guts," I thought to myself, with all the empathy of a snarling Liberatore. "He'll be right," was my next thought.*!

The second half of the game was dramatic, as is often the way when the Tigers and the Dogs cross paths. We had got out to a lead, but through the sheer will of Trent Cotchin an co, the Tigers were steaming home and the Bulldogs' defence had the air-raid siren sounding loud.

During the chaos, I became aware that Roughy had a sore shoulder. There was no big announcement, I could just tell. Roughy has played with a sore shoulder before and I casually assumed it was simply more of the same.*!

Deep in the third quarter, after he was able to provide another contest in the air and bring the ball to ground, the ball was skewed in his direction and he fumbled it twice, almost ending in disaster for the Dogs. This time, I was not so casual. "We need 40 minutes out of you Roughy, give me everything you've got. Slap your hands, do whatever you have to do to wake them up!"*!

About an hour later, *!Roughy and I were in the showers, his shoulder broken and swollen. I felt foolish and immensely proud in that moment, a most curious combination of emotions.*!

Speaking softly out the corner of a crooked smile, I asked my heroic mate: "So, slapping your hands to wake them up didn't quite help?"*!

"Not with a snapped AC joint, Bob," came the reply. He played almost the whole game with one arm and through immense pain, all for the cause. I didn't hear him complain once. We love him so.

A few days later, with the weekend's dramatic wins and losses fading in the memory, I sat at home with soft rain falling outside when the news came through that Mitch Clark would retire from football immediately due to mental health issues.*!

I don't know Mitch Clark or the private challenges he faces, but when I think of him now, walking away from the game at the age of 26 for the betterment of his health, I feel a strange kind of admiration for him.

What I do know is that professional football carries a very unique kind of anxiety and pressure. It's a pressure that is constant, a pressure that is both intensely public and intensely private.

Courage comes in many and varying forms. This week, I saw just a couple of them.



Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/courage...#ixzz2yTbLCtis

[azabob]

"We need 40 minutes out of you Roughy, give me everything you've got. Slap your hands, do whatever you have to do to wake them up!"*!

Hows F off sound Murph?

I loved reading that this morning, I especially love the piece of banter between Rough & Murph in the shower.

About an hour later, *!Roughy and I were in the showers, his shoulder broken and swollen. I felt foolish and immensely proud in that moment, a most curious combination of emotions.*!

Speaking softly out the corner of a crooked smile, I asked my heroic mate: "So, slapping your hands to wake them up didn't quite help?"*!

"Not with a snapped AC joint, Bob," came the reply. He played almost the whole game with one arm and through immense pain, all for the cause. I didn't hear him complain once. We love him so.

That we do love Rough so. I am start to love a lot of our players more so than normal (no disrespect to previous warriors) Liberatore Jnr, MacRae, Clay Smith, Rough, Hunter - and Im sure the list will continue to grow.

[bulldogtragic]

Thought provoking stuff. Great piece again by Bob.

[The bulldog tragician]

What other footballer can say so simply and eloquently:

'we love him so'

A really beautiful article.

[Greystache]

Roughy's development over the past 2 years has been incredible. I've been tipping Smith to be our next captain for some time, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is Roughy.

[Twodogs]

Roughy's development over the past 2 years has been incredible. I've been tipping Smith to be our next captain for some time, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is Roughy.

I think it will be Roughie. I've noticed that he's developed as the leader of the young group. When he speaks they all stop and listen.

We are going to miss him but it gives an Austin or Talia an opportunity.

[bornadog]

Roughy's development over the past 2 years has been incredible. I've been tipping Smith to be our next captain for some time, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is Roughy.

He would make a great captain.

[firstdogonthemoon]

I got a bit teary reading this

[jeemak]

Great article. Gives an insight into how hard you have to be to play at the elite level. The more articulate coaches often talk about the need for players to play through injury across single and multiple games for their sustainability as individuals and the benefit of the team.

There's not many soft AFL players. As an ammo I wilted to the forces of being the fattest and oldest player to get OP and retired pretty quickly, younger players push through that sort of issue all the time these days, and much more at the highest level.

I remember Leigh Matthews talking about Darren Millane having his thumb broken and reset throughout the 1990 finals series each week and just shudder over how much of a bitch that must have been to deal with. At our club, I think of Morris with a broken bone in his leg through the 2009 finals series, Cooney with his cracked patela and Higgo with everything he's worried about over time and I admire each of them for getting through it.

[Murphy'sLore]

I'm sure I heard an interview with Macca last year where he was asked to nominate the player most likely to become PM. He chose Roughy. Sounds like captain material to me.

[LostDoggy]

I think Roughy will definitely be our next skipper. He's in a similar mould to Tom Harley: tough as nails, invaluable to the team and has the utmost respect of every player.

[LostDoggy]

That we have a fair few players we can see as captain is proof positive that Macca's philosophy is bearing fruit, in my opinion.

Bob. We love him so.

[LostDoggy]

What a great piece from Bob - I do miss reading The Age on a Thursday! Guess I can do it on line.