‘The constant battle’: Why Collingwood’s Nathan Murphy is hanging up the boots at 24

Months after he suffered a concussion in the first quarter of the 2023 grand final, Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy was still battling to overcome headaches, migraines and anxiety.

Those battles were what prompted him to call time on his AFL career for medical reasons at just 24.

Nathan Murphy sits in front of his locker at Collingwood on Tuesday with parents Shaun and Deborah (left), girlfriend Rose Meech (second from right) and sister Jessica.

“There’s obviously the constant battle with headaches and migraines and a bit of anxiety as well, which isn’t really me, so when that is having a bit of an impact on not just me but the people around me … yeah,” Murphy told this masthead on Tuesday.

Murphy estimates he suffered six concussions while playing AFL and VFL football with the Magpies and 10 overall in his sporting career.

He hasn’t played a game since being concussed in the grand final, and has had at least two brain scans since, with the club organising a second one soon after Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw retired in February, also due to concussion.

He was also in constant dialogue with club doctor Ruben Branson before the fateful meeting with the AFL’s concussion panel on Saturday, where the decision was mutually reached for the Magpie to hang up his boots.

“I can’t deny I have been experiencing a lot of symptoms and that is why we had this plan in place to attack it, which was all based off how I was feeling and reacting to everything,” Murphy said. “There’s no doubt that these concussions have taken a toll on me, but it’s also comforting when the panel are telling me it’s all going to be OK.”

Murphy’s attitude to concussion has gradually changed over the course of his career.

He said he went from the doctor having to chase him around the field to get him off the ground after a heavy knock to ruling himself out of a grand final at quarter-time despite passing the concussion test. He admitted to seeing double at the break as Craig McRae addressed the players, and ruled himself out.

“It’s honestly very hard when you are starting out in this team and you get a head knock that puts you out for 14 days, but this is so much bigger than football. This is your health. This is your future. It’s great that we are taking this so seriously,” Murphy said. “Trusting the professionals is the big thing. I’ve been so fortunate to have some of the best people [at Collingwood] guiding me.”

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Murphy spent time in the off-season with defensive coach Jordan Roughead and conditioning coach Jarrod Wade trying to find ways to return to the game after the AFL gave him the all-clear to continue playing in December. Murphy and his parents, Deborah and Shaun, met with the Collingwood board to ensure all parties were conscious of the risk before that decision was announced.

At that point, he was gearing up for a big return, telling a Jan Juc surf club fundraiser at Torquay Golf Club on January 4 that he had confronted the prospect of retiring but was relieved to receive permission to play.

But he knew as the season drew nearer that it was going to be impossible to reduce the risk of further head knocks to an acceptable level and admitted he was “not in the right frame of mind” to restart his career.

“I didn’t want to lose that trademark I had as a player and there were things we altered but ultimately, we did what we could and the medical [panel] decided it for me,” Murphy said.

Murphy said he had no regrets about the sometimes reckless way he played the game, running back with the flight to mark and attacking ground balls, nor the way in which the decision was reached.

“I don’t think I would have honestly got a game if I didn’t play the way I did. I was a guy who couldn’t really kick and handball the football so I had to do this stuff to get in the team,” Murphy said.

“The best thing about it was the boys and the coaches rewarded them and were so grateful for what I brought to the team. I felt really valued which is all you really want as a footballer and as a person.

“It’s a weight off my shoulders. The panel were great in recommending things for me to help me through this process … it’s not all doom and gloom.”

Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy consoles Angus Brayshaw as he leaves the ground after being concussed in the qualifying final.

Murphy is the second AFL player to retire prematurely after being concussed in last year’s finals series, without having played another game. Melbourne’s Brayshaw retired in February on medical advice, five months after being knocked out in the qualifying final. Murphy said Brayshaw’s decision did not influence his case.

Murphy took every precaution after the grand final incident, including not drinking alcohol during the grand final celebrations: “This is just a game of football. We wake up the next day, no matter what, and life still goes on.”

Murphy is studying teaching and environmental science and his girlfriend Rose has joined him in Melbourne. He also owns a coffee shop in Hawthorn called Whiplash with Roughead and other friends. His parents, girlfriend Rose and one of his two sisters, Jessica, were at Collingwood for the announcement.

“It’s been an amazing journey and I’m very grateful for everything but I think this is the right decision for my future,” Murphy said.

The Magpie will be eligible for a career-ending injury payout and the Magpies have also agreed to financial terms with Murphy, whose contract was extended by a year a couple of weeks ago.

Football manager Brendon Bolton said the club was open-minded to Murphy having a role inside the club and confirmed an agreement had been reached.

“I’d rather not go into the detail of contractual status and all those scenarios but ultimately our club will be here to support ‘Murph’,” Bolton said.

Murphy played 57 matches for Collingwood, including the 2023 flag as a vital component of the Magpies’ defence alongside skipper Darcy Moore and high-flier Jeremy Howe. He was pick 39 in the 2017 national draft.

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