Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy considering football future after concussion panel visit

After suffering the 10th concussion of his career, Nathan Murphy was determined to make his way back to the AFL. However, JON RALPH reports that might not be the case.

Nathan Murphy is weighing up his future in the AFL system. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Collingwood’s premiership defender Nathan Murphy is weighing up his football future this week after a second visit with the AFL’s concussion panel over the weekend.

Murphy has not been training with the Collingwood side in recent weeks as he conducts his own personal training program while assessing his future.

Murphy suffered another concussion in the Grand Final and after at least 10 head knocks across his junior and senior career he has not been in a position to play AFL this season.

Repeat visits to the AFL’s concussion panel to assess progress as a player weighs the risks of his future are not uncommon.

But it is understood Murphy is nearing a decision on retiring or playing on after 57 AFL games at Collingwood as a fearless and uncompromising full back.

He told this masthead last week he wanted to be armed with all the evidence as he had witnessed Angus Brayshaw’s medical retirement from the game.

“It is (taking time to regain) confidence but I also think it is (about) being able to play this game for longer and doing it in a smart and measured way,” Murphy said.

Nathan Murphy is weighing up his future in the AFL system. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“I think the confidence is still there, but it is just being able to adjust that – my technique and stuff – so I can play this game for longer.”

Brayshaw was forced out of football and will have his contract honoured by the Demons _ with most of it exempt from the salary cap _ but Murphy is in the final year of his contract.

If he does retire he could access a financial settlement under the AFLPA’s career-ending payout rule.

Club president Jeff Browne said recently the club had ordered more brain scans for Murphy after Brayshaw’s medical retirement.

The difficulty for Murphy is that he has not been medically retired by the AFL so has to make his own decision taking into account his long-term health.

“I am told it (the result) is clear, but we will monitor him very closely,” Browne said.

“I would love him to play, but I want him to be safe, and I want him to have a happy life after he leaves (Collingwood).”

Under the collective bargaining agreement players who exit the game due to an injury which prevents them from playing at senior level in any other competition can be paid out based on their age and base value of the final year of their contract.