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Luke Beveridge made an emotional presentation to Bob Murphy after the AFL Grand Final

LUKE Beveridge won everyone’s hearts with a touching gesture to injured skipper Bob Murphy after the full-time siren.

James MattheyJames Matthey
@jamesmatthey
5 min read
October 1, 2016 - 9:09PM
An emotional moment.
An emotional moment.

BOB Murphy is a person, not just a player, every footy club would love to have.

Never was that more evident than in the aftermath of the Bulldogs’ Grand Final win over the Swans on Saturday afternoon.

Dogs coach Luke Beveridge finished his address to the MCG crowd by thanking the fans — or so we thought.

In a moment that will live long in Grand Final folklore, Beveridge went back to the microphone and asked his injured captain to join him on the dais.

He then presented the 34-year-old with the medal he’d received just a minute earlier as the coach of the premiership-winning side.

“Before I go I’d like to call up Bob Murphy to the stand. He deserves it (the medal) more than anyone,” Beveridge said.

It was seriously impressive stuff.

Teammate Jake Stringer said what every member of the Bulldogs family was thinking.

“Even though he didn’t play he’s very much a part of this.”

Matt Boyd agreed.

“What can you say about Murph really? He’s the heart of this footy club and has been for a long time, we’ll just have to do it again for him next year I reckon.”

Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen joined the love-in.

“It’s so emotional. He’s our spiritual leader. He’s a massive part of this win.”

Murphy was in tears.

“We must be dreaming. It’s something else.

“We didn’t even dream of days like this. Sons and daughters of Australia, we’re bringing it home,” he yelled before bailing from an interview to celebrate with his teammates.

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd was overcome with emotion when Beveridge gave Murphy his premiership medal.

“That’s a moment that will stay with me forever,” Lloyd said on 3AW after the game.

“I’ve never cried at a game of football before, but I had the tears streaming down my eyes when Luke Beveridge called Bob Murphy up on stage and put that medal around his neck.

“There was one of the most touching moments I’ve ever seen at a football game.”

MURPHY FEELS THE LOVE AFTER PRELIM FINAL

One the most loved figures in the AFL world, the injured Western Bulldogs star is all class when he’s on the field, and the gravitas he carries himself with off the field and in the media is matched by very few in the game.

You could see just how highly he was regarded in the footy community when he broke down in April with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament that ended his season. The sympathy and tributes flooded in for the now-34-year-old.

Despite being unable to contribute with the Sherrin, the Dogs captain has still been integral in his side’s push for their first premiership since 1954.

He was there for youngster Mitch Wallis when he suffered a horrific broken leg in July and was pivotal in leading the club at a time when injury woes looked to have crippled its season.

Seeing his reaction after the full-time siren of the Bulldogs’ 89-83 win over the GWS Giants in the preliminary final last Saturday night put into perspective just how significant the achievement was for the club, which hadn’t played in a decider since 1961.

He was as emotional as you’ll see. Tears streamed down his face as he hugged teammates, support staff and gave the travelling supporters enthusiastic fist pumps.

Murphy’s face said it all.

Murphy embraces stand-in skipper Easton Wood.
Murphy embraces stand-in skipper Easton Wood.

While the story of the finals had been the strength of the Dogs’ young talent — think Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Tom Boyd and Caleb Daniel — Murphy too was a popular topic of discussion after the Grand Final qualifier.

Commentators and TV personalities talked about how bittersweet the experience must be for the 295-game veteran. He debuted for the Bulldogs in 2000, but in 2016 he wouldn’t get the chance to play in the club’s most important game in over 50 years.

“Ecstasy and pain all at the same time,” AFL legend Leigh Matthews said of Murphy’s situation on Channel 7’s AFL Game Day. “The pain that he can’t be involved on the field which is where he wants to be, but the ecstasy for his teammates and wanting to help where he can.

“It takes enormous character and empathy and he’s got both of those, Bob Murphy.”

Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said after the game that even though Murphy had been on the sidelines, his influence on the team had been first rate. He acknowledged he’d reach a point before the Grand Final where he’d feel down because he wouldn’t be stepping out onto the MCG turf with his mates, but the boss urged him to look at the positives.

“There’s a lot of emotional people out there and no doubt everyone feels for Bob, but he’s just been such an enormous support for the players,” Beveridge said.

“You guys know the sort of person he is — he’s such a dignified young man, and he will just keep going about it the same way, nothing will change.

“At some point he’s going to reflect and think, ‘I wish I was playing’ and think about what’s happened to him.

“But as I said to him the other day, ‘We’re a better team with you in it, so if we win it this year, imagine how good we’re going to be next year,’ so he’s got a lot to look forward to.

“He’ll handle it in the right fashion.”

Just as the tears flowed in the sheds after Wallis broke his leg, so too were the waterworks on show against the Giants, but for a very different reason.

Channel 7 AFL reporter Mark Stevens gave an insight into just how emotional the epic victory was for the entire organisation.

“I call it the crying game, I’ve never seen so many grown men crying,” Stevens said. “Assistant coaches, former players, presidents, former board members, it was just extraordinary down there.

“Rohan Smith, Daniel Giansiracusa, guys who’ve had ghosts of prelim finals in the past, it was a very emotional time.”

“(Club president) Peter Gordon was crying, Bob Murphy was crying, there weren’t too many who have been involved in this club that weren’t in tears,” Hamish McLachlan added.

AFL.com.au reporter Ashley Browne said Bulldogs great and now FOX Footy commentator Brad Johnson was fighting back tears, and her colleague Adam Curley also gave an insight into just what went on in the inner sanctum.

Originally published as Luke Beveridge made an emotional presentation to Bob Murphy after the AFL Grand Final

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/bob-murphy-is-still-at-the-heart-of-everything-the-western-bulldogs-are-doing/news-story/4dd99b669694cd49a0e1e49d487b93da