Marc Murphy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marc Murphy |
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Murphy playing for Carlton in June 2017
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| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 19 July 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria | ||
| Original team | Beverley Hills (Vic)/Oakleigh Chargers | ||
| Draft | No. 1, 2005 national draft | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder / Small Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Carlton | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Marc Murphy (born 19 July 1987) is a famous Australian rules football player. He played for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Marc was chosen as the very first player in the 2005 AFL draft. He was also the captain of the Carlton team from 2013 to 2018. Marc is the son of John Murphy, who was also a great football player.
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Marc's Early Football Journey
Marc Murphy went to Whitefriars College in Donvale. He started playing football at junior clubs like Beverley Hills and Doncaster. Later, he played for the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup, which is a league for young players.
In 2005, Marc played for the Vic Metro team in the AFL Under 18 Championships. His team won, and Marc was named the best player in the whole tournament, winning the Larke Medal.
Choosing His Team
Because Marc's dad, John Murphy, was a legend for the Fitzroy Football Club, Marc could have joined the Brisbane Lions. This is thanks to a special rule called the "father-son rule." However, Marc decided he wanted to stay in Melbourne. So, he chose to enter the main AFL draft.
The Carlton team then picked him as the very first player in that draft. This was a big deal for Marc and the club!
Marc's AFL Career Highlights
Starting Strong: 2006–2007
Marc Murphy played his first AFL game in 2006. He played against Melbourne and did really well, even scoring his first goal! Because of his great start, he was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award.
Marc was a favorite to win the Rising Star award. But in the middle of the season, he got a shoulder injury that stopped him from playing more games. Even though he only played 12 games, he helped Carlton a lot with his passes. He won Carlton's Best First Year Player award. Other players also voted him as the Best First Year Player in the AFL.
In 2007, Marc became part of Carlton's leadership group. He continued to play well, but injuries to other key players meant opponents often focused on stopping him.
Stepping Up: 2008
Marc worked hard and became stronger before the 2008 season. He played even better because other star players, like Chris Judd, joined the team. This meant Marc had more freedom to run and play his best. He had some amazing games, getting a lot of the ball. He also played his 50th game for Carlton.
At the end of 2008, Marc came second in Carlton's best and fairest award, the John Nicholls Medal. He also got 11 votes in the Brownlow Medal, which is a huge award for the best player in the league.
Marc was also chosen to play for Australia against Ireland in the 2008 International Rules Series. He was one of Australia's top players in the series.
Becoming an Elite Midfielder: 2009–2011
In 2009, Marc became one of the best midfielders in the AFL. He got about 25 possessions per game. He also became a great goal scorer from the midfield, kicking 31 goals that season. He was chosen in the top 40 players for the All-Australian team. He finished second again in Carlton's best and fairest award, behind Chris Judd.
In 2010, Marc played his 100th game. This was special because his dad, John, and his grandfather, Leo, also played 100 games each. They are the only father-son-grandson group in league history to do this!
Marc had an amazing year in 2011. He was named in the All-Australian team for the first time. He also won his first John Nicholls Medal as Carlton's best and fairest player. The AFL coaches also named him the Champion Player of the Year.
Captaining the Blues: 2012–2018
Marc started 2012 very strongly and was a favorite for the Brownlow Medal. But he got a shoulder injury in round 8. He came back later in the season and even became the acting captain for a few games.
In 2013, Marc was officially announced as the captain of the Carlton Football Club. He led the team well, getting about 22 possessions per game. He continued to play consistently in 2014, finishing second in the John Nicholls Medal again.
In 2015, Marc played his 200th game against Hawthorn. He had a fantastic game, getting 37 possessions. He finished second in Carlton's best and fairest award, just one vote behind Patrick Cripps.
Marc was reappointed captain in 2016 for his fourth straight season. However, his season ended early due to an ankle injury.
He bounced back in 2017, having one of his best years ever. He averaged over 29 possessions per game and won his second John Nicholls Medal as Carlton's best and fairest. His leadership was very important for the team.
In 2018, even though he was 30, Marc showed his loyalty to Carlton by signing a new contract. He had another season with injuries, playing only 13 games. He signed another contract extension, showing his commitment to the club.
Stepping Down as Captain: 2019
After his injury-hit 2018 season, Marc Murphy decided to step down as captain in 2019. He passed the role to younger leaders, Sam Docherty and Patrick Cripps, who became co-captains. Marc still remained part of the leadership group, helping guide the team.
Marc's Personal Life
In September 2015, Marc proposed to his girlfriend, Jessie Habermann, who is a model and blogger. They got married in December 2016. In 2018, they welcomed their first child, a son named Max.
Marc's Career Achievements
Here are some of Marc Murphy's top individual awards and achievements:
- 2x John Nicholls Medal: 2011, 2017 (This award is for Carlton's best and fairest player each year)
- All-Australian team: 2011 (Chosen as one of the best players in the entire AFL)
- Australian representative honours in international rules football: 2008 (Played for Australia against Ireland)
- AFL Coaches' Association (AFLCA) Champion Player of the Year: 2011 (Voted best player by the AFL coaches)
- AFL Players Association (AFLPA) Best First Year Player: 2006 (Voted best first-year player by other AFL players)
- AFL Rising Star nominee: 2006 (Nominated as a promising young player)
- Larke Medal: 2005 (Awarded to the best player at the AFL Under 18 Championships)
