Kevin Murray
Encyclopedia
Kevin 'Bulldog' Murray was a champion Australian rules football
er who played for the Fitzroy Football Club
in the Victorian Football League
in 333 games over 18 seasons.
Murray played for Fitzroy from 1955 to 1964, and from 1967 to 1974, winning nine best-and-fairest awards for the club. He was playing coach of Fitzroy in 1963, a job he also filled in 1964, along with representing and captaining his home state of Victoria.
Although only 5'10" (178 cm) tall, he had a very long reach: his arm span was somewhere near 6'6" (198cm).
In 1965 and 1966 he moved to Western Australia
to play for and captain/coach East Perth Football Club
. During that time he played 44 West Australian National Football League
(WANFL) games and captained WA at the 1966 Hobart Carnival
during which is he was awarded a Simpson Medal
for his match against VFA. He also won East Perth's best-and-fairest award in 1965. In 1966 he led East Perth to the WANFL Grand Final
but they lost to Perth
, which was captain/coached by former East Perth player Mal Atwell. Atwell had left the Royals to Perth because he didn't agree with Murray's methods.
His return to Fitzroy was triumphant. He won the club's best-and-fairest award in his first two years back, and in 1969 he was awarded the Brownlow Medal
.
Amongst Murray's other honours, he was named an All-Australian player in 1958 and 1966.
His 333 games for Fitzroy was a then VFL record, but 208 of these games resulted in losses, the most ever suffered by a single player in the VFL/AFL. He also played 44 games for East Perth, 24 for Victoria and 6 for WA.
At the end of the 1996 season, Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears
to form the Brisbane Lions
. Murray was a great supporter of the new entity, and the Lions' club championship award, the Merrett-Murray Medal
, is part-named in Murray's honour. Murray has been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
, and was elevated to legend status in 2010.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for the Fitzroy Football Club
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
in 333 games over 18 seasons.
Murray played for Fitzroy from 1955 to 1964, and from 1967 to 1974, winning nine best-and-fairest awards for the club. He was playing coach of Fitzroy in 1963, a job he also filled in 1964, along with representing and captaining his home state of Victoria.
Although only 5'10" (178 cm) tall, he had a very long reach: his arm span was somewhere near 6'6" (198cm).
In 1965 and 1966 he moved to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
to play for and captain/coach East Perth Football Club
East Perth Football Club
The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club that is a member of the West Australian Football League...
. During that time he played 44 West Australian National Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WANFL) games and captained WA at the 1966 Hobart Carnival
1966 Hobart Carnival
The 1966 Hobart Carnival was the 16th edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition. It was the final time that Tasmania hosted a carnival....
during which is he was awarded a Simpson Medal
Simpson Medal
The Simpson Medal, a prize for Australian rules football, has been donated by Dr. Fred Simpson and family since 1945. It is awarded to the best player in a WAFL Grand Final and the best player in an interstate game involving Western Australia....
for his match against VFA. He also won East Perth's best-and-fairest award in 1965. In 1966 he led East Perth to the WANFL Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
but they lost to Perth
Perth Football Club
The Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club plays its matches at Lathlain Park.-History:...
, which was captain/coached by former East Perth player Mal Atwell. Atwell had left the Royals to Perth because he didn't agree with Murray's methods.
His return to Fitzroy was triumphant. He won the club's best-and-fairest award in his first two years back, and in 1969 he was awarded the Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
.
Amongst Murray's other honours, he was named an All-Australian player in 1958 and 1966.
His 333 games for Fitzroy was a then VFL record, but 208 of these games resulted in losses, the most ever suffered by a single player in the VFL/AFL. He also played 44 games for East Perth, 24 for Victoria and 6 for WA.
At the end of the 1996 season, Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
to form the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
. Murray was a great supporter of the new entity, and the Lions' club championship award, the Merrett-Murray Medal
Merrett-Murray Medal
The Merrett–Murray Medal has been awarded annually since 1997, to the player adjudged the Brisbane Lions Club Champion over the immediately preceding AFL season...
, is part-named in Murray's honour. Murray has been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
, and was elevated to legend status in 2010.