Marc Murphy accepts that his three-year Carlton captaincy is under review as part of Brendon Bolton’s reset at the struggling AFL club.
The Blues’ new coach said late last month that he was open-minded about whether Murphy should stay skipper.
“That’s fair enough – I think anyone coming in, whether it be a business or organisation or a footy side, you’re not going to keep things exactly the way they were,” Murphy said on Tuesday.
“He’s going to come in with a new approach (and) everyone is on a level playing field.
“If the boys want me to and the coaching staff do, I’d love to lead this footy club.”
Murphy said player leadership would be discussed next week when they head to the Gold Coast.
“That will work itself out over the next month or two,” he said.
Murphy added Bolton was quickly making his mark at the club.
“We’re doing everything completely different (to) what we’ve done over the last three years,” he said.
“It’s been really good from an older bloke’s point of view … to see that.
“It’s really exciting.”
The midfielder is yet to start full training because of the shoulder injury he suffered late in the season.
Murphy said he expects to return to contact training next month.
He was talking as part of a club promotion where the Blues hope to reach 30,000 members by the end of the year.
Macca
Guest
Col - I don't the think that was "the" problem with Malthouse but it was certainly one of them. His unwillingness to play younger players was another.
Col from Brissie
Guest
Macca, I think the problem with Malthouse was that he was not willing to compromise on his game plan. Whist it might have worked at Colingwood, he needed to realise he had a different group of players at Carlton and he was never going to have the amount of time at Carlton that he had at Collingwood. Bolton and his new assistants are basically starting from scratch with a much younger group and with the knowledge that he has a few years (potentially 5) to mould this group into a cohesive unit. I think also all the new faces and the new approach has invigorated the senior players.
Macca
Guest
Completely agree Buzz - Gibbs last year was the one that really made that stand out for me - here we had a bloke coming of a career best B&F winning year and basically all he did for 2015 was win the ball from a ruck contest and blindly kick it forward - that isn't the actions of a bloke enjoying his football.
The Original Buzz
Guest
I did, Macca. The terminology used under Bolton (and Barker) is different and so is the body language from the players. I watched Michael Jamison's interview and his body language made a big statement that he was definitely excited about the future of the club. I can see it in others as well, like Gibbs, Murphy and a few others. With Malthouse they were trying to say the right things but the body language said otherwise, they really weren't playing for the coach and they just wanted it to be over.
Macca
Guest
Buzz/Col - Did either of you blokes hear Zach Tuohy's comments the other day about when Malthouse took over there was a lot of people commenting that he was trying to reinvent the wheel? Sounded like he never really got the players on board with his terrible game plan.
The Original Buzz
Guest
I think Simpson is the only other person capable of being Captain but then he will more than likely be gone at the end of the year leaving a change of Captain yet again - possibly back to Murphy. I think Murphy is the logical choice for the same reasons you guys stated.
Macca
Guest
COmpletely agree Col - I remember some clown (Don Freo most likely) arguing that Murphy's shoulder breaking in his clash with dangerfield was proof he was soft. Considering Murphy is only 180cm and 80kg and his best strength is running his opponent into the ground his contested possession rate is fantastic.
Col from Brissie
Guest
Macca, the thing that annoys me most is the perception by opposition fans and more disappointing some Carlton fans is that Murphy is too soft. He has had 2 serious injuries simply because he wanted the ball. One was a broken jaw from Hodge and the other a shoulder when hit by Dangerfield. His contested possession average of 10.06 compares with other captains like Pendlebury, Ablett and is only 1 less per game than Selwood and is better than Hodge, yet these captains are not labelled as being soft. Murphy is the logical Carlton captain for the next 3 years by which time he will be 31 and it may be possibly time to hand the role to Cripps.
Macca
Guest
The idea that Murphy won't be Captain next yer is laughable - he was excellent last year once Malthouse was gone (his best year since 2011) and is growing into the job each year (why waste 3 years of learning) but most importantly there is simply no better alternative - Kade Simpson is the oldest bloke on the list, Jamison needs to focus on educating the likes of Weitering, Plowman, Jaksch and Glass McCasker - who will soon push him out of the side, Cripps is just 20 and Gibbs needs to work on finding his 2014 form. This was all just a challenge from Bolton to all the list - show me your leadership qualities - and to Murphy specifically - show me how much you want this - but at the end of the day there is no real decision to make.