Robert Murphy

Carlton’s shock lifeline for Bulldogs great Robert Murphy revealed

The 300-game superstar admitted the Blues contacted him in 2018 to come out of retirement.

Published by
Alex Docherty

Former Western Bulldogs captain Robert Murphy revealed that Carlton made him an offer from left field for him to come out of retirement.

Murphy, who played over 300 games with the club, said on SEN’s Bob and Andy that the Blues had approached him after the 2018 season to see if a comeback was possible.

“I think Sam Docherty had just done his knee and the call was made to see whether I’d entertain coming back (to play),” He said.

“I’m not entirely special as I think they threw the net out pretty far, I think Brendon Goddard also got a request, but the call was put out.”

In December 2018, Docherty, now Carlton’s co-captain, had just ruptured his left Anterior Cruciate Ligament for the second time, leaving Carlton’s stocks at half back bare.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Easton Wood and Robert Murphy of the Bulldogs pose with the trophy during the Western Bulldogs AFL Grand Final celebrations at Whitten Oval on October 2, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. The Western Bulldogs defeated the Sydney Swans in yesterday's AFL Grand Final. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

But Murphy shrugged off the potential of a comeback, stating he never seriously considered coming out of retirement.

“(Manager Tom Petroro) said ‘take a day’ and think about it,” he said.

“He said that they want to draft me and I must admit, I found it hilarious as I had been out of the game a year already.”

Murphy’s 312-game career spanned over 18 seasons with the Western Bulldogs, having led the club in his final three seasons, before retiring at the end of the 2017 AFL season.

Published by
Alex Docherty