WHEN Marc Murphy chests the banner for game 288 this Sunday he surpasses the two-time Carlton Premiership player and best and fairest Justin Madden at No.6 in the Club’s all-time games record tally.
With Eddie Betts also earning a recall, he too will draw level with the former ruckman on the collective games total of 332, having also played 132 games with Adelaide – remembering that Madden also turned out in 45 senior appearances for Essendon.
“Harry” was In typically effervescent form when sought for comment about the Murphy-Betts milestones this week.
When asked to first respond to the fact that Murphy was on the cusp of passing his 287-game tally , Madden dryly suggested: “I feel like I’ve become even more irrelevant”.
“It’s good that players like Marc advance their careers and find longevity,” said Madden, a former President of the AFLPA. “It’s good that players play for a long time in this day and age”.
When asked to offer comment on the possibility of Betts joining him on 332, the former Victorian Minister for Sport declared: “if someone’s going to surpass me on 332 I’m glad it’s someone who’s engaging and has personality – ‘like for like’!”.
On completing his 288th Carlton career game against Fremantle, Murphy will find himself 24 games adrift of Stephen Silvagni on 312 and a further 16 shy of John Nicholls on 328 – both of whom Murphy could surpass with injury-free seasons through 2021 and ’22.
Justin Madden
DOB: May 31, 1961
Carlton Career: 1983 - 1996
Debut: Round 7, 1983 vs Sydney, aged 21 years, 341 days
Carlton Player No.: 909
Games: 287
Goals: 170
Last Game: Semi Final, 1996 vs Brisbane, aged 35 years, 106 days
Premiership Player: 1987, 1995
Best and Fairest: 1985, 1991
All Australian: 1987, 1995
Carlton Hall of Fame
Marc Murphy
DOB: July 19, 1987
Career: 2006 -
Debut: Round 1, 2006 vs Melbourne, aged 18 years, 257 days
Carlton Player No.: 1091
Games: 287 *
Goals : 189 *
Club Captain 2013 - 2018
Best and Fairest: 2011, 2017
All Australian 2011
AFLCA Player of the Year 2011
AFL Rising Star Nominee - Round 1, 2006
AFLPA Best First Year Player 2006
Games Record holders, Carlton Football Club
375 Craig Bradley
356 Bruce Doull
342 Kade Simpson
328 John Nicholls
312 Stephen Silvagni
287 Justin Madden
287* Marc Murphy
278 Anthony Koutoufides
268 Geoff Southby
263 David McKay
* still playing
