Magpies flag winner medically retired suddenly at 24

Collingwood premiership winner Nathan Murphy has announced his retirement at the age of 24 due to concussion-related issues.

The defender had been with the Magpies for the past seven years and made over 50 AFL appearances for the club.

Murphy explained his long-term health and wellbeing was the reason for the decision.

“I feel it is the right time and the right decision for me to hang up my footy boots,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

“I love my football, but my priority is on my future and ensuring I live a full and healthy life.”

Murphy suffered a concussion in the first quarter of Collingwood’s 2023 grand final over the Brisbane Lions after an accidental collision with Lincoln McCarthy.

After being cleared to return by the AFL’s concussion panel during pre-season, Murphy was involved in a scary incident at training, before suffering another head knock during a match simulation and ruling him out of the start of their campaign.

Magpies coach Craig McRae revealed last month that Murphy had returned to contact training, but he did not feature in the early rounds.

Murphy paid credit to the club, family and teammates after the news of his retirement.

Nathan Murphy celebrates with Oleg Markov of the Magpies celebrates winning with the AFL Premiership Cup during the 2023 AFL Grand Final match between Collingwood Magpies and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 30, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“I’d like to thank the club, coaches, teammates, staff and the Magpie Army for all their support throughout my playing career.

“To my family and friends, I couldn’t have gone through this journey without your continued love and support which I am so grateful for.

“It is not lost on me how fortunate I am to have been able to experience premiership success with this group and club. I hope I did the jumper proud and thank the many people and supporters who helped me along the way.

“I will forever cherish the memories and friends I’ve made at our great club.”

Murphy fronted media on Tuesday morning at the club’s training facility and was quizzed on whether or not Angus Brayshaw’s retirement factored into his decision, revealing the panel were the ones to medically retire him from the sport.

Nathan Murphy fronts the media after announcing his retirement from the AFL.

“I don’t think that really had an effect on me … this has come off the back of how I’ve been feeling and no one else,” he said.

“I was guided by medical advice that this was the right decision for me.

“I’m really grateful that it has come to this, because they are the professionals and I just have to trust their opinion. I saw the panel on Saturday and I was medically retired.”