Michael Murphy (Australian footballer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Murphy is a former Australian rules football
er who played with North Melbourne
, Adelaide and the Brisbane Bears
in the Victorian/Australian Football League
(VFL/AFL).
Murphy, a key position player from Renmark, came to North Melbourne after being selected with the ninth pick of the 1987 VFL Draft
. He played three times in the 1988 VFL season
then returned to the club he was recruited from, Glenelg in the SANFL
. Murphy was a centre half back in the 1990 Grand Final
, which Glenelg lost to Port Adelaide
. His performances during the year saw him make the Adelaide Football Club's squad for their entry into the AFL in 1991.
In just his second game, Murphy kicked a bag of six goals against Footscray
at Football Park. He however struggled throughout the season with injuries and discipline, missing a total of seven games through suspension from three visits to the tribunal. In 1992 he again made few appearances, but managed an accurate 23 goals and three behinds.
Having been let go by Adelaide, he was picked up by Brisbane with the 81st pick of the 1992 AFL Draft
. His biggest contribution came in the club's record 219 points to 57 points win over Sydney
at The Gabba, where both he and Roger Merrett
booted eight goals
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 with North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
, Adelaide and 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...
in the Victorian/Australian 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...
(VFL/AFL).
Murphy, a key position player from Renmark, came to North Melbourne after being selected with the ninth pick of the 1987 VFL Draft
1987 VFL Draft
The 1987 VFL Draft was the second draft to provide recruitment opportunities to clubs participating in Australian rules football's elite Victorian Football League. Held after the end of the 1987 season, it consisted only of the National Draft itself....
. He played three times in the 1988 VFL season
1988 VFL season
The 92nd Victorian Football League Premiership Season commenced in April 1988 and concluded on 24 September 1988, with Hawthorn winning their seventh Premiership in their sixth consecutive Grand Final appearance.-Night Series:...
then returned to the club he was recruited from, Glenelg in the SANFL
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
. Murphy was a centre half back in the 1990 Grand Final
1990 SANFL Grand Final
The 1990 SANFL Grand Final saw the Port Adelaide Magpies defeat the Glenelg Tigers by 15 points. The match was played on Sunday 7 October 1990 at Football Park in front of a crowd of 50,589 .-Quarter by Quarter Scores:...
, which Glenelg lost to Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
. His performances during the year saw him make the Adelaide Football Club's squad for their entry into the AFL in 1991.
In just his second game, Murphy kicked a bag of six goals against Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
at Football Park. He however struggled throughout the season with injuries and discipline, missing a total of seven games through suspension from three visits to the tribunal. In 1992 he again made few appearances, but managed an accurate 23 goals and three behinds.
Having been let go by Adelaide, he was picked up by Brisbane with the 81st pick of the 1992 AFL Draft
1992 AFL Draft
The 1992 AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League...
. His biggest contribution came in the club's record 219 points to 57 points win over Sydney
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
at The Gabba, where both he and Roger Merrett
Roger Merrett
Roger Merrett is a former Australian rules footballer who played in two Victorian Football League premiership sides with the Essendon Football Club in the mid-1980s before moving to the fledging Brisbane Bears, later captaining the new club for seven seasons...
booted eight goals