Carlton veteran Marc Murphy hopes to play on beyond 2020

Carlton veteran Marc Murphy signed a new two-year deal last year and the gun midfielder hopes to keep playing with the Blues beyond that, declaring he’s feeling as fit as ever ahead of the 2019 season.

Carlton veteran Marc Murphy has revealed his intention of playing on beyond the end of his current two-year deal, believing the games he missed from frustrating injuries in two of his past three seasons could ultimately extend his AFL career.

Murphy, 31, had his 2016 and 2018 seasons impacted by ankle syndesmosis and plantar fascia injuries respectively, which was split by a best-and-fairest victory in 2017.

But the Blues star has been buoyed by a strong preseason leading into this year and will use Monday night’s JLT clash with Collingwood at Morwell as his final lead-in to what will be his 250th AFL game when the Blues take on Richmond on March 21.

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His current contract runs to the end of the 2020 season, but he can envisage playing on for a few more years after that, if his body allows it.

“I’ve got two years (left on a contract) … but I think from where I can see the club being (in that time) and hopefully seeing where my body can be, I can play on for a bit longer,” Murphy said.

Marc Murphy wants to play on beyond 2020. Picture: Michael Klein

“As long as my mind and my body is right, I will play on.

“You can look at it like I haven’t played as much footy in the last four to five years as I would have liked, but hopefully the body hasn’t had that wear and tear.

“As a 31-year-old, you get managed a lot better these days. I don’t think the days of being 30 and on your last legs is right now.

“I am really energised and can see the excitement in this (Carlton) list.”

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Murphy has enjoyed working with the Blues’ new director of high performance Andrew Russell — who was so influential during Hawthorn’s golden era — and the only sessions he has missed in the preseason have been planned ones.

“I have enjoyed working with Andrew Russell,” he said. “I really rated our (last) fitness guy, but to have someone else come in who is so highly regarded and who has a little bit of a different philosophy in terms of some of the running could work out well for me.

Murphy is feeling super fit ahead of the 2019 season. Picture: Sarah Matray

Murphy in action during a pre-season training session. Picture: Sarah Matray

“Doing something a bit different has been a bit of a fresh start for me.

“The injuries I’ve had haven’t been long-term ones … so I’ve got a lot of confidence in the people here to get my body where it needs to be.

“I can see it being a really enjoyable time in the next few years with the growth of the team, and that’s going to be awesome to be a part of that.”

Murphy said he could play a few slightly different roles at stages of this season, as the Blues look to become a more competitive outfit.

“I am spending a bit more time on the wing,” he said. “I’ve even trained a little bit at halfback and I might float through the middle a bit.”

“Hopefully I can try to add as many strings to my bow as I can.”