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ROBERT Murphy is concerned for the welfare of young Western Bulldogs teammate Tom Liberatore, who he says has "lost his way" and is "in a really dark place".
Murphy, as a member of the Bulldogs leadership group, was part of the decision-making process that resulted in 20-year-old Liberatore being suspended for the rest of the season after police found him drunk and in possession of an illicit drug in the early hours of Sunday morning.
It had been "a really emotional, difficult situation", Murphy told Fox Footy program AFL 360 on Tuesday night.
"I know there's a football side of it and the discipline and all that kind of thing, but from my perspective it's more of a real concern for a young man, a young friend," he said.
"I love Tom. He's a really good lad.
"He's in a really dark place at the moment.
"He's copping it from all angles. That's the world we live in.
"My thoughts are with a young mate who's lost his way at the moment."
Murphy also gave a poignant insight into what took place when Liberatore met the Dogs' leadership group.
"Footy's an industry that's built on macho and not showing weakness and vulnerability, but we have these meetings and sometimes you have these moments where we're just laid bare," he said.
"Inside a footy club, that's when it's so raw, and that was one of those times."
ROBERT Murphy is concerned for the welfare of young Western Bulldogs teammate Tom Liberatore, who he says has "lost his way" and is "in a really dark place".
Murphy, as a member of the Bulldogs leadership group, was part of the decision-making process that resulted in 20-year-old Liberatore being suspended for the rest of the season after police found him drunk and in possession of an illicit drug in the early hours of Sunday morning.
It had been "a really emotional, difficult situation", Murphy told Fox Footy program AFL 360 on Tuesday night.
"I know there's a football side of it and the discipline and all that kind of thing, but from my perspective it's more of a real concern for a young man, a young friend," he said.
"I love Tom. He's a really good lad.
"He's in a really dark place at the moment.
"He's copping it from all angles. That's the world we live in.
"My thoughts are with a young mate who's lost his way at the moment."
Murphy also gave a poignant insight into what took place when Liberatore met the Dogs' leadership group.
"Footy's an industry that's built on macho and not showing weakness and vulnerability, but we have these meetings and sometimes you have these moments where we're just laid bare," he said.
"Inside a footy club, that's when it's so raw, and that was one of those times."
For him, this is punishment.
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