It’s a huge, huge day for the Western Bulldogs no matter what goes down: it’s their first grand final appearance since 1961, and fans have been waiting for so, so long to see them even get this far. But one person who won’t be out on the field is captain Bob Murphy, as he is injured.
Murphy sustained a season-ending ACL injury earlier in the year.
He’s kept his emotions under wraps until now – a really nice op-ed in The Age notwithstanding – but in a raw interview with ABC Grandstand he revealed the pain of not being out there with the boys.
“There’s also those little moments you have for yourself where there is an ache,” Murphy said.
“That’s the only way I can describe it. There’s a bit of an ache. That you’re not where you should be. I won’t be running out with the boys.”
Murphy was asked what it’s going to be like for him to watch this historic games from the MCG. “Grab the tissues. Grab the tissues,” was his reply.
“It’s going to be excruciating. It will be a really uncomfortable experience, I’m anticipating. My morning coffee has been uncomfortable. It will be emotional.”
“There are moments of utter despair,” Murphy went on. “That you’ve put so much into this part of your life and I won’t get to experience it, but how I would describe it is, there are slivers of despair but there is big old chunks of pride.”
Saturday Agenda @ABCAFL
Grand Final morning with Bob Murphy “Whatever happens today I’ll carry it with me forever”
And Patrick Dangerfield pic.twitter.com/N4nwIsBq8e— Gerard Whateley (@GerardWhateley) October 1, 2016
Good luck to every player out there today.
Source: ABC Grandstand.
Photo: Getty Images.
