Murphy 08-??

[Bulldog Revolution]

Robert Murphy clearly struggled in 2007 on the back of the knee reconstruction given to him courtesy of an Anthony Rocca tackle (Our tackling expert Dry Rot can provide a better description of it than I can). Once he re-emerged post injury in 2007 he kicked 19 goals and averaged 14 possessions a game, although had a couple of interruptions with hamstring troubles.

The move by Rocket to send him forward in 2005 was inspired and had immediate results as he kicked a career high 33.19 as a leading half forward. In 2006 before injury he had kicked 13 goals in 9 games.

What can we expect in 2008?

Will he spend more time forward or back?

Can he emerge as one of the superstars of the competition?

[hujsh]

No worries about Murph here. Whenever he got rollin he got injured but he always found form eg against Stkilda Melbourne and Richmond. He has too much class to not play well + he is a star already

[The Underdog]

I think he'll play a fair bit forward as he's really valuable there. He's great overhead for his height and does some great leadup work. He's also a very smart footballer.
I actually like the thought of him down back. I don't know quite how he'd go picking up a good forward, but he reads the play very well and uses it well too.
I still think he'll play mostly forward but has the capacity to help out down back and be very useful.

[Sockeye Salmon]

It's a shame we don't have a genuine CHF, Murph is sensational on a HBF.

[The Underdog]

It's a shame we don't have a genuine CHF, Murph is sensational on a HBF.

I agree, he'd be great there, but he's so valuable up forward for us at the moment.

[Mantis]

It's a shame we don't have a genuine CHF, Murph is sensational on a HBF.

So too are Griffen and Gilbee, but also you pointed out we haven't got very many lead up types.

[Bulldog Revolution]

It's a shame we don't have a genuine CHF, Murph is sensational on a HBF.

Where do you think he is more of a match winner Sockeye? Forward or Back?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Where do you think he is more of a match winner Sockeye? Forward or Back?

Back, definately. We just don't have the luxury of playing him there.

Gilbee might be a better kick, but Murphy's vision is extraordinary.

[wimberga]

I actually like the thought of Murphy on the wing, as a link between defence and attack.

[GVGjr]

I actually like the thought of Murphy on the wing, as a link between defence and attack.

I don't think he works hard enough to play on a wing. You will either get an attacking winger or a defensive one. I doubt he will be able to provide a benefit to both ends. I also don't rate his kicking into the forward line.

I think he needs to play as a forward but as others have mentioned he is very good in the back half as well.

[Scorlibo]

I reckon that Murph is better down back, before moving forward he was probably in the elite class of small defenders, he can be a very effective playmaker there. The problem ofcourse is that Gilb is already planted down back as our playmaker, and Murph adds a fair bit of spice to an otherwise lacklustre lead-up forward line. So under the circumstances he is probably better up forward, swinging down back occasionally.

[LostDoggy]

I reckon that Murph is better down back, before moving forward he was probably in the elite class of small defenders, he can be a very effective playmaker there. The problem ofcourse is that Gilb is already planted down back as our playmaker, and Murph adds a fair bit of spice to an otherwise lacklustre lead-up forward line. So under the circumstances he is probably better up forward, swinging down back occasionally.

Sounds like exactly the way we should use.

[Mofra]

I don't think he works hard enough to play on a wing.

He covered 19.5kms in a match playing as a forward, 05 when he came 4th in the AFL for total marks. It's not his workrate I'd question, he is just too valuable to play anywhere else but forward.

[BulldogBelle]

Got to play him forward. A very valuable weapon.

[Bulldog Revolution]

He covered 19.5kms in a match playing as a forward, 05 when he came 4th in the AFL for total marks. It's not his workrate I'd question, he is just too valuable to play anywhere else but forward.

I am not sure he reads the play as well in the midfield as he does when hes forward or back

Back, definately. We just don't have the luxury of playing him there.

Gilbee might be a better kick, but Murphy's vision is extraordinary..

So hes better at creating goals from half back than creating/finishing them in the forward line