Murphy - Encouraging signs?

[FD2646]

Firstly, as I have previously admitted on BF I am a Ryan Murphy fan. Notwithstanding this comment, I am also one of the first to admit that in his career spanning approx 40 games he has generally disappointed. This year however he has usually provided a contest and put his body on the line more regularly - 2 things that have not usually been associated with him and therefore the critical nature of posts on BF by Freo ppl has prompted this post. In the first quarter against Carlton his solid bump kept the ball in the fwd 50 and the pressure he instigated resulted in a Freo goal. Last Friday he ran back with the flight of the ball and took a very gutsy mark just outside our fwd 50. These are just 2 examples. He has contributed on the board this year (usually only 1-2 goals) but it is a start and I would think he can becaome more prominent. I am sick of all the Murphy bashers - we have enough outside the club and to me he is showing some improvement (yes slowly I know) in facets of his game most often criticised. He looks fitter and stronger and with some more self belief I think he can be a valuable contributer this year kicking somewhere between 25-40 goals.

 

[Dyslexic Emo]

I can't believe I am about so say this but *Gulp*

Thornton>>>>>>Murphy

 

[dominguez]

Think he had 6 possessions and played over 90% of game time. That's not enough impact.

 

[estibador]

The problem with him 'showing improvement' is he isn't some young kid just making his way in the AFL. He's a fairly experienced campaigner now and although he has improved from the last couple of dismal years he's still miles behind the form he showed a few years ago. He should really be at the stage where he's hitting his straps right now.

Having said that, I'm not totally unhappy with the way he's been playing and considering our lack of options I'm satisfied (barely) with him having a place in the side at the moment.

 

[Silk_44]

I actually agree, his first half was piss weak, went to ground far too easily and didnt provide much defensive pressure. The longer the game went the more he exerted himself on the contest.

The one thing I will say about Murphy is, he needs to think he's the man.

What do I mean by that, at WAFL level he's the goto guy and plays accordingly, when he steps out in Purple he seems to go into his shell. He's one of the best leaders and natural full forwards I've seen in the WAFL for some time, but for some reason his leads lack the same purpose when he takes the next step.

I'd persist with him. Give him some responsibility up forward for the next month, see how he performs then reassess.

If Campbell could put some pressure on his spot he may be a little more urgent.

 

[estibador]

I think if Harves is planning on using Dessie as a forward while he builds his fitness back up Spud could be the one who makes way for him.

 

[Silk_44]

Hinkley would be the one to go for Headland. Hinkley's been floating through the Half forward line and patches on ball.

 

[PapaJ]

I reckon Murphy deserves his spot in the side at the moment. He's not doing much wrong and he plays the sort of position that isn't going to get him mountains of stats.

If he takes the opportunities that come his way, if he works hard and kicks 2-4 goals a game and runs hard up the wings to take relieving marks when the defence is in trouble - all of which he's generally doing, then I say he's doing OK. But I still would regard him as a fringe player.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Must be so incredibly soft in the stomach.

Goes to ground unbelievably easily.

 

[dominguez]

If he takes the opportunities that come his way, if he works hard and kicks 2-4 goals a game and runs hard up the wings to take relieving marks when the defence is in trouble - all of which he's generally doing, then I say he's doing OK. But I still would regard him as a fringe player.

He took 3 marks Friday night PapaJ.

 

[PapaJ]

He took 3 marks Friday night PapaJ.

Fair enough, that's clearly not enough on the face of it - but he kicked 2 and created another 2 from limited opportunities. If he's showing the right signs and there's nobody knocking down the door to take his spot (by this I mean a true FFwd eg. Kiwi) then leave him there and see if he can take the game buy the scruff at some point. Also, I'm thinking team balance here - he lets Taz play back which is proving a winner at the moment, McPharlap to swing and Pav plays mid which is a necessity now with no Palmer and Crowley. Like most I reckon Spud needs to harden up, but I don't see him as a major liability either

.... having said all that, I'm not going to complain if he's droped, I just don't think he's as bad as he's made out .

 

[The Night Shift]

I don't think he's as bad as some of you lie to make out. He, along with a few others seem to be the forum punching bag when it comes to spewing forth frustrations about the side. He's a FF thats kicking goals at the moment.. Is that such a crime??

 

[sabre_ac]

Can't take a contested mark
Can't play off the ground
Can't keep his feet

Good kick and a decent lead...However as mentioned I think he is a simply a player for another time, if our key forward stock's weren't so weak he wouldn't be getting a game.

Surely Ballantyne isn't far away.

 

[Clay Davis]

Better than McPharlin up forward.

Seriously, why isn't there more forum heat on McPharlin than Murphy? IMO McPharlin's had a very poor season for an experienced player.

Muprhy - 8 goals, 13 tackles, 35 disposals, 5 games
McPharlin - 7 goals, 10 tackles, 110 disposals, 8 games

The only thing in his favour is more disposals, but I struggle to think of many uses of the ball he's had that have resulted in goals or good passages of play. He's averaging fewer disposals than Dodd, Hayden, Hill, Grover, and Johnson, among others. Grover and Dodd specifically are rarely big ball winners, but they're pantsing McPharlin at the moment.

 

[dominguez]

I don't think he's as bad as some of you lie to make out. He, along with a few others seem to be the forum punching bag when it comes to spewing forth frustrations about the side. He's a FF thats kicking goals at the moment.. Is that such a crime??

Had his best game in a long time on Friday and finished with 6 possessions 3 marks. That figure needs to get up around 12-15 possessions and 6-7 marks.

 

[DockerA]

Murph had six disposals on Friday nite, from those 6 he kicked 2 goals and had 2 score assists.

Those who say Murphy is soft, i agree that he does go to ground to easily. But I Ryan Murphy has made more tackles this year than he has in any one of his prior seasons, and is going at 2.6 tackles per game, to put that in perspective the Wiz averaged 2.6 tackles in only one of his seasons at both Melb and Freo.

In 2006, Murphy was kicking just under 2 goals a game, and this year he is kicking just over 1.5 a game.

While I'll b the first to admit he still has a way to go, I believe that his signs are encouraging, and we should leave him in there. Forget Kiwi, Murphy can still become a true FF.

 

[theGav56]

I am no fan at all of Murphy, but would think he should stay in the side. He got a new two year deal, and we are struggling for forwards given the move of Tarrant and the failure of Grover. Plus MacPharlin is having minimal impact, although he has much more versatility than Murphy reflected in his disposals.

I think everything should be done to toughen him up and find a role for him where he is contributing like a player at his stage of career should be. Most of our KPP's have taken a step backwards this season, Tarrant the obvious exception.

 

[samseenee]

I am not a Murphy fan, never have been.
I was bemused by his contract extention, and still am.
He is nothing better than a good, sometimes exciting, WAFL player.
Kiwi has not been given the chance to show what he has as last season we were doing the merry dance of Kiwi in for a game or two, Murphy in for a game or two.

Murphy probably has 2 more games in him to show what he has to offer and then I'd say it'll be Kiwi's turn. Des and Balla will be coming back soon, and surely Mayne not long after that but they are all small forwards.
Thornton is playing a defensive forward role and deserves his spot in the team atm.
We still need a forward presence and with Pav playing in the midfield we still need a Kiwi or a Murphy in there regardless of Des, Balla or Manye playing or not.

I dont know what the answer is, I just dont think its Murphy.

 

[Clay Davis]

I think Kiwi is highly overrated on this board.

 

[Lach72]

Campbell is playing like a crab in the WAFL.

Murphy is kicking a couple a game...he needs to take some contested marks though.

The other option is to give Murphy the Cherry Sarse and bring in Clarke.

Put Sandi in the goal square for 30-40% of the game if Clarke can hold his own.

Kangaroos are not exactly tall at the back

 

[samseenee]

I think Kiwi is highly overrated on this board.

Possibly Gravy, but I think Kiwi has a far greater presence in the forward 50 than Murphy.

Sure he is no Fev, but he can take a mark, he has a big body and has attitude to match.

Something that murphy lacks.

 

[dominguez]

The other option is to give Murphy the Cherry Sarse and bring in Clarke.

Put Sandi in the goal square for 30-40% of the game if Clarke can hold his own.

Kangaroos are not exactly tall at the back

I'd bring in Clarke if Murphy struggles this week. A big bloke in the goal square certainly makes a lot of sense once we start getting players back because Des and Ballantyne are very good on the lead. A combination of Murphy, Ballantyne and Headland would be messy because they'd all lead into each others space and there would be no long option.

Hopefully after the split round we'll have a structure something like-
FF- Headland + Clarke/Campbell/Sandilands/McPharlin + Ballantyne
HF- Mayne + Johnson/Pavlich + Peake/Thornton

 

[Lach72]

I'd bring in Clarke if Murphy struggles this week. A big bloke in the goal square certainly makes a lot of sense once we start getting players back because Des and Ballantyne are very good on the lead. A combination of Murphy, Ballantyne and Headland would be messy because they'd all lead into each others space and there would be no long option.

Hopefully after the split round we'll have a structure something like-
FF- Headland + Clarke/Campbell/Sandilands/McPharlin + Ballantyne
HF- Mayne + Johnson/Pavlich + Peake/Thornton

Guys like Gibson and Hansen are a match for Spud though.
Athletic enough, strong enough and will have no issue with a forward who can't take a contested mark.

If we play Johnson and McPharlin and Pav as the lead up forwards/running fowards having a big guy like Clarke and Sandi to take a contested grab is the answer, I feel.

Our game plan is fast ball movement and often this leads to inaccurate kicks where a contested mark is essential, or at least a contest.

Clark is a very good mark from what I have seen.
Gibson and Hansen will have no option but to chop the arms with guys like Clarke and Sandi

 

[Lach72]

Just had a look at the Kangaroos board.
They have a few mock teams that have Grima at FB (193cm) Thompson (190cm) at CHB and Gibson (189cm) in a BP.
Hansen must be injured
I reckon 211 and Clarke could cause them some pain

They also have McIntosh, Hale and Petrie who could cause us some difficulty.

Mundy may be iffy due to injury too...maybe Des for him?

Their midfield is not much chop without Harvey.
Pav to CHF to really stretch them down back.

 

[dominguez]

Fair enough Lach, I figured that Murphy has just done enough to stay in the side.

Don't want to drop a small for a tall since we seem to have more run than last year but if Mundy can't play I'd be happy to see big Zach Effron take his place. With the state game on this weekend I'd certainly have Clarke in the travelling party.