THE Carlton Football Club have tonight inducted Marc Murphy and Kade Simpson into the Spirit of Carlton Hall of Fame.
Murphy and Simpson – both members of Carlton’s six-man 300 Club - become the respective 107th and 108th Inductees to the Hall since its establishment in the premiership year of 1987.
Alongside them, four-time premiership ruckman Peter (‘Percy’) Jones, together with the three-time Carlton premiership coach David Parkin, have also been elevated to Legend status in the Carlton Football Club’s Hall of Fame.
Marc Murphy (Hall of Fame inductee)
Murphy’s name was called by Carlton with the first selection of the 2005 AFL National Draft, after the player, to the delight of all connected with the Club, opted against joining Brisbane under the father-son rule. An uncompromising “head-over-the-ball” player immediately earned him the unconditional respect of his peers, and not surprisingly led to his elevation to the captaincy for what would be a six-year term, spanning from 2013-2018. Murphy’s 16 seasons at the highest level would see him secure the John Nicholls Medal in 2011 and ’17, plus All-Australian selection in 2011.
Kade Simpson (Hall of Fame inductee)
A gifted, heroic Carlton contributor, Simpson would emerge a durable, pint-sized warrior through 342 senior appearances from 2003-2020 – and with John Nicholls, Bruce Doull, Craig Bradley, Stephen Silvagni and Marc Murphy a feted member of Carlton’s 300-club. In giving the game away after 18 seasons at the highest level, ‘Simmo’ could safely say that he had wrung the cloth dry – an inspired and much-loved John Nicholls Medal winner who wore as a badge the No.6 made famous by Chitty, Henfry and Crane before him.
Peter ‘Percy’ Jones (elevated to Legend status)
One of Carlton’s most capable and loyal of servants, ‘Percy’ produced on-field histrionics that earned him cult status amongst the Carlton faithful with the Grand Final of 1972 his finest hour, for it was in this match – the 50-goal shootout with Richmond - that he effectively rucked unchanged. Jones’ preparedness to put his hand up as Carlton Senior Coach in late 1979 yet again reflected the man’s loyalty to the Club he loved - and beyond his brief coaching stint, he furthered his off-field involvement with Carlton’s Board of Directors.
David Parkin (elevated to Legend status)
Named Senior Coach of this Club’s Team of the Century, Parkin is universally respected as one of the League’s great analysts and innovators. Parkin’s professionalism impacted significantly on the remarkable group of prodigiously talented young players he inherited – Carlton’s famed ‘Mosquito Fleet’ that earned the Blues’ back-to-back premierships of 1981 and ’82 under his watch. On his return to the Club, Parkin rebuilt a team which ultimately morphed into the all-conquering ‘Record Breakers’ - and earned Carlton an unprecedented 16th premiership to round out a stellar season in 1995.
“On behalf of every Carlton person, it is with great pride that we see four great individuals of our Club receive individual honours,” Carlton President Rob Priestley said.
“All four of their careers are carved into the Navy-Blue history books and their names continue to be held in such high esteem amongst every Carlton person.
“It gives me immense pride to be able to properly recognise their contributions to our Club and their individual stories of resilience and determination.
“Kade, Marc, David and Peter will continue to be a source of inspiration for our younger generation and even our current-day players.
“The Carlton Football Club has an incredible history, and we all understand the importance of honouring and sharing it. To be able to recognise them all is a significant moment and one that we are proud to celebrate together as one club.”
