A STIRRING second half of the season will have Carlton full of confidence with 2019 coming to a close.

Familiar faces fired in Navy Blue while the Club’s emerging youngsters owned the future in a campaign which saw the Blues record seven wins for the year. 

With the home-and-away season now over, we’re going through every player who featured for Carlton at senior level in 2019.

Here’s the year that was for Carlton’s No. 3, Marc Murphy. 

GAMES


2019: 19

Career: 279

GOALS


2019: 12

Career: 185

KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets):

Disposals: 483 (25.4) Marks: 88 (4.6) Contested possessions: 162 (8.5) Tackles: 65 (3.4) Clearances: 64 (3.37) Metres gained: 7333 (386)

OVERVIEW


Marc Murphy may be one of the veterans of the Blues’ team, but if his form in 2019 is anything to go by, the classy midfielder still has some of his best football ahead of him. 

After celebrating his 250th game in the opening game of the season, Murphy started the season averaging 25 disposals, playing largely on the wing. 

Overcoming broken ribs, Murphy showed his indomitable spirit with a magical month in the midfield upon his return. Starring for the Blues between Rounds 13 and 17, he showed just how much of a brilliant player he is on the way to a winning run of form. 

 

BEST PERFORMANCE

It’s hard to look beyond Murphy’s game-winning performance against Fremantle in Round 15. 

In the absence of co-captain Patrick Cripps, the 32-year-old stepped up to the plate to help the Blues crawl over the line in a historic win in the West. 

If his 34 disposals, 14 contested possessions, and seven clearances weren’t enough, the match-winning banana under pressure to seal the victory capped off a truly vintage Marc Murphy performance.

 

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

While the brilliance of his performance against Dockers is hard to top, there is no doubt that Murphy’s 250th game against the Tigers was a true season highlight. 

Beginning his career at the Blues in 2006 and having ridden all the ups-and-downs of recent years,  it was a special moment for fans and players alike to watch the true Blue run out with son Max in his milestone game.

Alongside fellow milestone man Jack Riewoldt, Murphy was chaired off to a rousing ovation from the Carlton and Richmond fans alike.

THEY SAID IT

Former captain and mentor Chris Judd was quick to commend Marc Murphy ahead of his 250th game in Navy Blue.

“The main things I tried to instil in the younger players was preparation, lifting the standards across the group and getting young players to understand the professionalism they needed to apply in all areas of life,” Judd said.

“‘Murph’ was one who was always on board that train, he jumped on really early. It’s one of the reasons he’s played 250 games and also be able to play them at such a high level.”