Blast from the past: David Murphy

The roadrunner David Murphy was a quick and courageous old fashioned wingman for the Sydney Swans who would electrify the SCG with his pace and skill.

Murphy played his junior footy in the NSW town of Wagga Wagga which at that time was part of the Sydney Swans recruitment zone.

Brought to the club in 1984 at the age of 21 Murphy played 156 games and kicked 92 goals over his nine-year career at the Swans.

At 175cms, tall Murphy was small in stature compared to today’s AFL standards but his ground burning pace and supreme fitness meant he was a difficult proposition for all opposing wingmen.

Specialist wingman in today’s football is somewhat of a dying breed but back in late 80s early 90s it was a real glamour position. Some of the best players on the ground would do battle in great one-on one duels.

Murphy came up against AFL legends like Doug Hawkins and Robert ‘Dipper’ Dipierdomenico just to name a couple. While a consistent performer over his whole career averaging 19 disposals per game, Murphy’s best season was in 1988 where he averaged a touch over 22 disposals a game kicked 14 goals and received 11 Brownlow votes.

He also played State of Origin for New South Wales that year and was named in the All Australian Team. A funny fact about Murphy’s career is that he played state of origin football for Victoria in 1989 despite never playing or even living in Victoria.

Perhaps his greatest individual accolade came long after his career had finished in 2003 when he was named on his beloved wing for the Sydney Swans team of the century.

Although there was little team success for the Swans throughout Murphy’s career the seasons of 1986 and 1987 where the exceptions.

The Swans played powerful, high-scoring football over these two seasons especially at home at the SCG where they averaged over 20 goals a game.

The ’86 season was Murphy’s greatest chance for a premiership where despite finishing second on the ladder, the AFL rules at the time meant the Swans had to play both their finals in Victoria.

They lost the qualifying final to Carlton by 16 points at the MCG before losing to Fitzroy by five points in the semi final at the same venue.

A big strength of the Swans over this period of time was the mosquito fleet of champion ball winners the club had. The group of Murphy, Greg Williams, Barry Mitchell, Gerard Healy, Steve Wright and Merv Neagle where among the best midfield groups in the competition at that time, and are all still considered some of the greatest footballers to ever play for the Swans.

After an honest conversation with coach Ron Barassi at the end of the 1993 season in which he was told the Swans where going down the path of a youth policy, Murphy decided to retire at the age of 31. He then joined local Sydney team Campbelltown as captain/coach leading the team to premierships in his two seasons at the club.

The sight of a wide eyed David Murphy streaming down the SCG wing about to unload a powerful drop punt deep into the Swans forward line will be forever etched into the memory of all Bloods supporters.

David Murphy we salute you!