Proud Bulldog Bob honoured by captaincy

[bornadog]

THE WESTERN Bulldogs have confirmed that veteran Robert Murphy will captain the club in 2015.


Murphy, 32, will succeed Ryan Griffen, who shocked the football world by requesting a trade to Greater Western Sydney in the recent trade period.


Murphy said he had always counted himself as a leader at the Dogs, but had never properly considered what it would mean to be captain of the club he loved.


"It's (the captaincy) never been a burning ambition for me, but with the last couple of months, with Griff walking away, I almost felt compelled to step forward and I haven't doubted that instinct for a second since," Murphy said on Friday.


"I'm really proud. This has been my football club for half my life – it means everything to me.


"I've played under some great captains in our club's history and to be part of that lineage is something really special."


Newly appointed coach Luke Beveridge says he's put no covenants on Murphy's elevation into the captaincy, dismissing questions that it was a stopgap appointment.


"The qualities inherent in Murph, he'll be the leader who comes to us and says (who) is ready to take the mantle," Beveridge said.


"And if that's next year or in two years or for however long Murphy plays AFL footy, then that's the kind of person he is and that's why he's been voted in by the whole of the football club as our captain."


Beveridge also said there was "some water to go under the bridge" before the club elected its leadership group for 2015.


"We need to make sure we implement the right approach," he said.


"We're going to take [that decision] off the shelf and you're never going to get it 100 per cent right, but we need to get it as close to 100 per cent as we can.


"Murph will play a really important part in that role."


Veteran midfielder Matthew Boyd served as captain for three seasons from 2011, while Griffen took the reins at the start of 2014.


With a young list in tow, Murphy was the "unanimous" choice to lead the Dogs next season, according to Beveridge.

LINK

[bornadog]

Bob on SEN here

[bornadog]

Tweet from Bob:

Bob Murphy ‏@BobMurphy02 33s34 seconds ago
Thank you everyone for the kind words and support. I'm bursting with pride to captain our club for the next little while.
Cede Nullis

[LostDoggy]

When you implement a slogan of Be More Bulldog, this man must be captain.

[bulldogtragic]

Any fear Bob would turn into a cardboard cutout vanilla footy captain are gone. Great interview there.

[BulldogBelle]

Captain Bob bleeds Red, White and Blue!
Great choice.

[Ghost Dog]

The warrior poet. Press conferences are going to be much more fun!

[Hotdog60]

I hindsight Griff should have manned up a said I can't handle being captain early in the piece and Bob or Gia should had gotten the gig.

[AndrewP6]

I hindsight Griff should have manned up a said I can't handle being captain early in the piece and Bob or Gia should had gotten the gig.

In hindsight, those in charge should have had a better understanding of the players, and never have suggested he take the role.

[Hotdog60]

In hindsight, those in charge should have had a better understanding of the players, and never have suggested he take the role.

I think the age demographic had a lot to do with the picking and he was our best player in that middle tier. Most possible pick were too young or too old to go on for multiple years.

[Remi Moses]

In hindsight, those in charge should have had a better understanding of the players, and never have suggested he take the role.

Absolute nonsense . Pinning this on the coaching staff.
Ryan Griffen's an adult ( well in age profile) could have put his hand up from the start .
Pretty pathetic, and just like his childish exit

[Remi Moses]

I think the age demographic had a lot to do with the picking and he was our best player in that middle tier. Most possible pick were too young or too old to go on for multiple years.

He was next cab off the rank , and our best player.
Griffen should have acted like anyone over 12 and stated he didn't want the captaincy

[Hotdog60]

I hindsight Griff should have manned up a said I can't handle being captain early in the piece and Bob or Gia should had gotten the gig.

He was next cab off the rank , and our best player.
Griffen should have acted like anyone over 12 and stated he didn't want the captaincy

As quoted above

[GVGjr]

He was next cab off the rank , and our best player.
Griffen should have acted like anyone over 12 and stated he didn't want the captaincy

I could imagine how much condemnation the club would have received if they had appointed someone else rather than Griffen at the time.

[Mantis]

I could imagine how much condemnation the club would have received if they had appointed someone else rather than Griffen at the time.

I can't agree.

It was always felt that Ryan was uncomfortable being in the limelight and in a leadership role.