Fraser Murphy: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:12, 7 February 2026

Career: 1984 - 1991
Debut: Round 1, 1984 vs North Melbourne, aged 21 years, 88 days
Carlton Player No. 917
Games : 107
Goals : 158
Last Game : Round 7, 1991 vs Essendon, aged 28 years, 122 days
Guernsey No. 30
Height : 169 cm (5 ft. 6 in.)
Weight: 76 kg (12 stone)
DOB: 2 January, 1963
Premiership Player: 1987

Fraser Murphy was a pacy, tenacious rover who finished runner-up in the 1983 Liston Trophy (awarded to the Best and Fairest player in the VFA) after starring for Geelong West in their Grand Final loss to Preston. Originally from Bell Park within Geelong's local League, he came to Carlton in 1984, and played finals football in five of his eight seasons with the Blues. He is perhaps best remembered for missing out on a place in the 1986 Grand Final side through suspension – and a year later, gaining a late inclusion in the ’87 Premiership team. Although he found consistency a problem throughout his career (as do many forward pocket specialists) "Smurf" was a crowd favourite because he often kicked handy goals in tight games.

Murphy’s debut game for Carlton, in round 1, 1984 was a landmark match. Carlton thrashed North Melbourne by 137 points at Waverley Park, and in the process, unveiled a team that featured five new faces in a changing of the guard at Princes Park. Joining Murphy in Navy Blue for the first time were Tom Alvin, Wayne Blackwell, David Honybun, and boom WA forward Warren Ralph – who kicked 9 goals to help Bruce Doull celebrate a new club record in his 329th senior match.

Murphy quickly established himself in the team as a goal-kicking forward pocket, and played finals football in each of his first two seasons – although Carlton was knocked out of flag contention at the Semi Final stage in both years. In 1986, the Blues clicked into top form and won their way into the Grand Final with an impressive Semi Final victory over Hawthorn. But during one of the many skirmishes, Murphy was reported for striking Hawthorn’s Greg Dear, and ruled out the Grand Final by a one-match suspension. Hawthorn then accounted for Fitzroy in the Preliminary Final, and staged a big form reversal in hammering Carlton by 42 points to claim the flag.

Twelve months later, Murphy benefited from the other side of outrageous fortune. He was left out of the team when Carlton and Hawthorn clashed yet again in the 1987 Second Semi Final, replaced by Bernie Evans. Carlton duly beat the Hawks by 15 points, and Evans himself was reported for striking. Two days later, the VFL tribunal suspended Evans, so Murphy was recalled to replace him.

Carlton won the 1987 Premiership in the hottest weather ever recorded on Grand Final day. After Hawthorn's champion full-forward Jason Dunstall was ruled out of the game by an ankle injury, David Rhys-Jones kept the Hawks' other crack forward Dermott Brereton under a tight rein all day. The Blues were fitter and fresher than the Hawks, and it showed. Murphy spent most of the match on the bench, but came on late and helped put the result beyond doubt by running onto a deft tap-on by Adrian Gleeson, and banging through Carlton’s 15th and last goal in an emphatic five-goal victory.

Smurf played on for another four seasons after that wonderful day and continued to give the Blues honest and committed service. But the emergence of Paul Meldrum, David Glascott, Craig Bradley and others limited his opportunities. He played in the Carlton Reserves Premiership team in 1990, and at the end of that season asked to be released to another club.

In appreciation, he was given one more senior game in round 4, 1991 against Essendon at Waverley Park. Unfortunately the Blues couldn’t give their mop-topped terrier in the number 30 guernsey a win to finish up with, but he left Princes Park with all-round goodwill.

Having registered for the short-lived mid-season draft in 1991, Murphy was picked up by Collingwood at selection number four. However, to the relief of everyone apart from the mob at Victoria Park, Smurf didn’t sully his reputation by playing a senior game in the prison bars guernsey, and retired at the end of that year. Blues team-mate Dean Strauch was also selected by the Magpies in the same draft, but he too, failed to play a game with them.

Milestones

50 Games: Round 21, 1986 vs Footscray
100 Games : Round 20, 1989 vs St Kilda
100 Goals : Round 10, 1987 vs Brisbane Bears

Career Highlights

1987 - Senior Premiership Player
1990 - Reserves Premiership Player

Geelong West Footage on Fraser Murphy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ2quV7FNAQ&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0UJpb6iBLiC7LSDiF0t1dcqv_cMXJGDPzbQL6vjAH1ff9GCB-bKKyanLg

Video

Links

Blueseum: Summary of Murphy's playing career

Gallery

tcscn025-014 murphy.jpg
F. Murphy - autograph.jpg
1982 Fraser Murphy Article.
1983 - Future Blue Fraser Murphy (08/09/83).
1987 Night Game - Fraser Murphy in Brawl. (18/03/87).
1987 Rd 1 - Crowd favourite Fraser Murphy.
1987 Rd 1 - Fraser Murphy heads towards goal.
1987 Rd 5 - Fraser Murphy & Mark Thompson chase after the footy.
1987 Rd 5 - Fraser Murphy about to goal.
1987 Rd 10 - Fraser Murphy Player of the week.
1987 Rd 14 - Fraser Murphy on the burst.
1987 - Fraser Murphy attracting attention from other clubs (26/08/87).
1987 Rd 14 - Fraser Murphy flies over Russell Morris.
2008 Life Members Lunch - Fraser Murphy & Warren McKenzie.
1987 Rd 5 - Fraser Murphy.
1987 2nd Semi - Final 20 for GF undecided.
1987 Grand Final - Fraser Murphy breaks away.
1987 GF - Murphy unbearable in the lead-up.
1987 GF - Murphy sprints away from Jencke.
1987 GF - The elation of the final siren.
1987 GF - Murphy is about to congratulate last Qtr goal with Sticks.
1987 GF - Murphy & Dorotich at post match function.
1984 - Fraser Murphy training with the Blues (08/03/84).
1984 - VFA Star Fraser Murphy to debut.
1984 Rd 14 - A big game from Fraser Murphy.
1984 Rd 14 - Fraser Murphy about to give off handball.
1984 Rd 15 - Fraser Murphy crumbs Clokes fumble.
1984 Rd 15 - Fraser Murphy about to snap a goal.
1984 Rd 15 - Fraser Murphy snaps for goal.
1984 Rd 20 - Fraser Murphy flies through the air.
1985 - Fraser Murphy an interchange specialist (25/04/85).
1985 Rd 6 - Fraser Murphy marks strongly.
1985 Rd 8 - Fraser Murphy tackles Maurice Rioli.
1985 Rd 17 - Fraser Murphy lays the tackle as McKenzie provides assistance.
1985 Rd 20 - Fraser Murphy flies for a grab.
1987 Rd 3 - Fraser Murphy eludes tackler.
1987 - Fraser Murphy Profile (30/05/87).
1986 Rd 19 - Peter Dean & Fraser Murphy's 50th game.
1986 2nd Semi - Murphy screams Blue murder.Inside Football.
1986 2nd Semi - Fraser Murphy quote.Inside Football.
1988 Rd 12 - Murphy tackles Laffy.Pic: Inside Football.
1988 Rd 13 - Murphy is tackled.Pic: Inside Football.
1988 Rd 19 - Fraser Murphy after the footy.Pic: Inside Football.
1988 Rd 17 - Murphy pressures Lambert.Pic: Inside Football.
1989 Rd 20 - Fraser Murphy's 100th game.Football Record.
1989 Rd 20 - Fraser Murphy kicks downfield.Pic: Inside Football.
1988 - Fraser Murphy.Inside Football.
1989 Rd 20 - Fraser Murphy in his 100th game pressures ex Blue Ken Sheldon.Pic: Football Life.
1990 Pre-season game - Murphy & Madden lay a tackle.Pic: Inside Football
1990 - Madden & Murphy measured up.Inside Football.
1990 Rd 16 - Fraser Murphy kicks for goal.Pic: Inside Football.
1990 Rd 16 - Fraser Murphy's importance to the Blues.Inside Football.
1991 - Function for retiring Blues Murphy & Robertson.Inside Football.
$Murphy Runs Into Collingwood\'s Tony Shaw. 0001$

Murphy Runs Into Collingwood\'s Tony Shaw. 0001
Murphy Snaps Another One 1990
1987 GF - Justin Madden palms the footy.
1985 GF Sprint - Fraser Murphy to run.
1986 - Carlton Players put on a show.
1988 - Fraser Murphy.
1988 - Fraser Murphy profile.
1988 Qual Final; Cloke appeals with Murphy & Meldrum in the background.
Ex Blue; Werribee's Fraser Murphy with John Ironmonger.
1983 - Future Blue; Geelong West's Fraser Murphy marks.
1983 VFA 2nd Semi Final; Future Blue Fraser Murphy.
1984 Qual. Final - Fraser Murphy breaks away from Peter Schwab.
1983 - VFA's Geelong West; Future Blue Fraser Murphy.
2017 - Former Blue Fraser Murphy at VFA Club Geelong West Reunion.
1987 GF - Murphy flies high whilst supported by Gleeson.
1984 Rd 14 - Fraser Murphy breaks away from Graeme Landy.
1983 - Future Blue; Geelong West's Fraser Murphy.
1984 Rd 22 - Fraser Murphy & Bruce Reid walk off at half-time.
Fraser Murphy.
1985 Rd 4 - Fraser Murphy.
Fraser Murphy Montage.

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 '''Career: [[1984]] - [[1991]]'''<br>
 '''Debut: [[Round 1, 1984]] vs North Melbourne, aged 21 years, 88 days'''<br>