Hawks leave out Murphy for Hodge

Updated September 27, 2012 20:20:49

Hawthorn has dropped Tom Murphy to make way for returning captain Luke Hodge for Saturday's grand final against Sydney.

Murphy's omission was a mere formality after Hodge proved his fitness this week, having missed last Saturday's preliminary final against Adelaide after falling ill with gastroenteritis.

It was the only change made to both grand final teams for the MCG encounter, with the Swans sticking with the same 22 that comfortably downed Collingwood in last Friday night's preliminary final.

Hodge's recovery was confirmed early this week and Murphy, who was the late replacement for the preliminary final, always loomed as the player facing the axe.

"There's always unlucky people at grand final time," Hawthorn coaching director Chris Fagan said earlier on Thursday.

"The strength of the team this year's been our squad, and it's not just the bloke who misses out but the other six or seven players who have trained on - it'll be terribly disappointing for them too.

"But they've helped us get there and been an important part of what we've done."

Murphy has played just six senior matches this season, but they included both of the Hawks' previous two finals.

He made 18 senior appearances in 2008 but was dropped for the preliminary final and could not regain his spot in the side that beat Geelong in the grand final.

It was confirmed earlier this week that the Swans' Ben McGlynn and the Hawks' Brent Guerra had lost their race against time to recover from hamstring injuries.

With forecast wild weather for Saturday in Melbourne, there is still the chance that either side might make a late change.

The Hawks' side includes 10 players who were part of their 2008 grand final win, while Shaun Burgoyne, who played in grand finals with Port Adelaide in 2004 and 2007, is also chasing a second flag.

The Swans' team includes just four veterans of their 2005 premiership - Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton, Ryan O'Keefe and Lewis Roberts-Thomson.

The line-ups:

Grant Birchall, Josh Gibson, Benjamin Stratton

Martin Mattner, Ted Richards, Rhyce Shaw

Matt Suckling, Ryan Schoenmakers, Shaun Burgoyne

Nicholas Smith, Heath Grundy, Alex Johnson

Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Xavier Ellis

Daniel Hannebery, Kieren Jack, Lewis Jetta

Jack Gunston, Lance Franklin, Isaac Smith

Ryan O'Keefe, Sam Reid, Craig Bird

Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust

Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Adam Goodes, Jarrad McVeigh

David Hale, Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell

Shane Mumford, Josh Kennedy, Jude Bolton

Interchange: Clinton Young, Liam Shiels, Shane Savage, Paul Puopolo

Emergencies: Tom Murphy, Max Bailey, Kyle Cheney

Interchange: Nick Malceski, Mike Pyke, Luke Parker, Mitch Morton

Emergencies: Tommy Walsh, Tony Armstrong, Trent Dennis-Lane

AAP/ABC

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, hawthorn-3122, sydney-2000

First posted September 27, 2012 18:19:26

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Blues hope to unleash Murphy

Updated July 10, 2012 17:45:58

Carlton star Marc Murphy is training well in his bid to return from a shoulder injury, while Jarrad Waite is at least another week away.

Murphy has been out of action since the round eight match against Adelaide, but could be a key inclusion for Friday night's crucial encounter with North Melbourne.

"He was out on the track, but we'll just have to see how he pulls up and what the risk is to play him," Blues' coach Brett Ratten said.

"We think he's heading in the right direction, but we'll make a call after today and then we'll see how he goes Thursday.

"He's not a lock-in. Things can change fairly quickly so let's see how he pulls up.

"He's having more physical tests on him, so he's going well."

Both sides are locked on seven wins and sit outside the top eight ahead of Friday night's match.

Midfielder Kade Simpson is expected to miss at least four matches with a fractured jaw.

Ratten says tall utility Lachie Henderson (groin) and big forward Waite (back) are unlikely to resume this week.

Meanwhile, Ratten says the Blues have not joined the race for Collingwood forward Travis Cloke's signature.

He says he expects Cloke to re-sign with the Magpies.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, carlton-3053

First posted July 10, 2012 17:45:58

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Blues lose Murphy until July

Updated May 21, 2012 17:10:09

Star Carlton midfielder Marc Murphy will be out until round 14 with a shoulder injury that requires surgery.

Murphy sustained the injury to his left shoulder in Sunday's 69-point loss to Adelaide at Docklands.

The club said scans on Monday morning revealed a fracture in one of the bones in Murphy's shoulder and the necessary surgery will require at least five weeks of recovery.

"We will not have an accurate indication of how long Marc will be out of action until the surgery is performed," Carlton general manager Andrew McKay said in a statement.

"However we do know he will not be available until after our bye in round 13."

The Blues, who surged into premiership contention early on in the season, have a 5-3 record through eight rounds but have lost their last two in a row to St Kilda and the Crows.

Sunday's thumping at Adelaide's hands prompted coach Brett Ratten to question his players' work rate.

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, carlton-3053, vic, australia

First posted May 21, 2012 16:52:11

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Murphy injured in Carlton calamity

Updated May 20, 2012 20:20:04

Brett Ratten slammed his Carlton side after its 69-point drubbing by Adelaide on Sunday, a loss compounded by Marc Murphy suffering a shoulder injury.

The Crows climbed to a 7-1 record and second on the ladder by thrashing the Blues 19.10 (124) to 8.7 (55).

The Blues, premiership favourites after round three, have stalled, losing three of their past five games including their past two, to fall out of the top four.

The Crows' Patrick Dangerfield, who starred with 35 touches and two goals, collided with Murphy in a crunching contest during the second quarter and the Blues midfielder did not return to the field.

Ratten, who described Murphy's injury as a "sprained AC joint", did not seek to use the star's absence as an excuse, instead detailing how he feels his team has slipped from their early season performances in terms of skill, commitment and teamwork.

"Our players knew exactly where the Crows sat on the ladder," Ratten said. "We weren't surprised with how good they were today.

"They smashed us in contested ball. We couldn't put the same pressure onto them as they gave us.

"At the moment, we're more about the individual rather than the team.

"I think we've fallen away. We don't seem to have that flair anymore. We're being beaten around the stoppages too easily.

"Their blokes around the ball were exceptional. Thompson and Dangerfield had 31 touches to half time. Gibbs and Curnow had 11.

"It comes down to work rate. Things need to change soon."

On Murphy, Ratten said: "I don't know how many weeks Murphy miss ... (He) probably won't play next week."

Murphy had managed only five touches and tellingly, was also well held in last round's loss to St Kilda, suggesting his absence will be sorely felt if he misses a stretch of games.

It was Adelaide's fifth straight victory and the Crows seem look impressive by the week under first-year coach Brenton Sanderson.

The men from West Lakes have already matched last year's win tally.

The win backed up notable performances over the previous two rounds - a hard-fought victory over Sydney at the SCG and a 50-point home thrashing of Geelong.

Inaccuracy contributed to Adelaide trailing by three points at quarter time, but the visitors powered away with a 5.1 to 0.2 second term in which the Blues' only two scores were rushed behinds.

By the time young big man Josh Jenkins booted a two-bounce running goal to put Adelaide 40 points up late in the third quarter, the game was effectively over, the Crows rubbing it in with a last term spree.

Adelaide's win came despite the absence of suspended star Taylor Walker, the AFL's leading goalkicker at the start of the round.

It was built on a hard-nosed midfield performance, with Dangerfield and fellow strong-bodied on-baller Scott Thompson outstanding, well served by ruckman Sam Jacobs.

Dangerfield's combination of brute power and skill was best illustrated by his first-term goal - when he wrenched the ball out of a forward pocket pack, spun and snapped truly - but his highlights came all day.

Bernie Vince kicked three goals, as did hard-working forward pocket Ian Callinan.

It was the Crows' first win in Victoria since beating Carlton at the same venue late in 2009.

For Carlton, skipper Chris Judd battled hard with too little midfield help, while Jeff Garlett kicked three goals.

The Crows also had some injury scares, Graham Johncock (shoulder) and Tippett (knee) both spending time off the ground in the second term, but both returned to finish the game.

Adelaide: 19.10 (124) - Goals: B Vince 3, I Callinan 3, K Tippett 3, J Jenkins 2, D Mackay 2, P Dangerfield 2, J Petrenko, J Porplyzia, S Thompson, N van Berlo.

Carlton: 8.7 (55) - Goals: J Garlett 3, K Simpson 2, L Henderson, M Kreuzer, B Thornton.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, carlton-3053, adelaide-5000

First posted May 20, 2012 18:08:55

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Murphy beats Jetta to the ball

Published:Sunday, June 19, 2011 4:56 AEST

Marc Murphy of the Blues beats Lewis Jetta of the Swans to the ball during the round 13 AFL match at Docklands stadium June 19, 2011. The Blues won by 34 points.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league

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Interview: Robert Murphy

Published:Friday, June 17, 2011 10:43 AESTExpires:Thursday, September 15, 2011 10:43 AEST

Bulldogs defender Robert Murphy told Tim Hodges and the Grandstand team that it was relieving for his side to snap their four-game losing streak, especially on the night of his 200th AFL game, against Adelaide at Docklands on Friday night.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia

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Interview: Marc Murphy

Published:Friday, May 20, 2011 10:56 AESTExpires:Thursday, August 18, 2011 10:56 AEST

Carlton midfielder Marc Murphy told Kelli Underwood and the Grandstand team that Chris Judd is a warrior who plays bravely through injury after the Blues captain struggled with a foot complaint in their side's loss to Geelong on Friday night.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia

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Howlett, Murphy inseparable at the G

 Published:Saturday, April 16, 2011 4:58 AEST

Ben Howlett of the Bombers and Marc Murphy of the Blues attempt a mark during the round four AFL match between Carlton and Essendon at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 16, 2011.

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