Nathan Murphy withdraws from Collingwood pre-season games due to ongoing concussion concern

Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy has been ruled out of the club’s pre-season matches but says he has every intention of continuing his career after concussion issues.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Nathan Murphy of the Magpies celebrates after the 2023 AFL Grand Final match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Brisbane Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Collingwood premiership backman Nathan Murphy is not considering retirement as he works to alter his technique in a bid to find the confidence needed to return to the AFL field.

Murphy, 24, pulled himself out of Collingwood’s upcoming practice matches to find the “right frame of mind” after a summer in which he had to prove he could play again after concussion issues.

The fearless defender was adamant on Wednesday that he was physically well enough to play, he just needed a boost mentally to rediscover the high-flying nature that has won over Magpie fans.

After deciding to stand out of pre-season matches, Murphy has no timeline on when he will be ready to take the field but will continue to complete most of Magpie training.

ROBBO: WHY IS NATHAN MURPHY STILL PLAYING FOOTY?

Murphy leaves the field with help from trainers during last year’s Grand Final. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Murphy has made his career so far on his timing in the air and ability to fly into marking contests as a defender and he wants to still play that way, despite copping 10 concussions across his footy life, the latest coming in September’s grand final win.

“It is just a bit of a confidence thing,” he said.

“I am working really hard, adjusting a bit of my technique with a few of the coaches here, so I think it’s just a belief that I can attack those aerial contests the way I have been. I am just working with the right people to be able to do that.

“I don’t think I am second-guessing myself, I am a young guy, I consider myself young … I am still learning the best way to go about this.

“I don’t want to change too much how I play.”

Nathan Murphy after being knocked out during a game in 2023. Picture: Michael Klein

Murphy said he hadn’t had any physical setbacks through pre-season, after he was cleared by a concussion panel in December to carry on playing.

His contract runs out at the end of this season but the former gun cricketer said he wasn’t looking too far ahead.

“I am looking at how I can get back into playing football … I am not really contemplating retirement, that is not really on my agenda,” he said.

“I am just focused on getting back out there and playing football.”

The 57-game Pie has been part of most Collingwood training sessions over summer but has sat out some contact drills.

He drew positives from a recent session in which Nick Daicos tackled him to the ground and he carried on training, even quipping that it was rare to see Daicos lay a tackle.

“I think the positive thing from all of this is that I am really healthy,” Murphy said.

“I have participated in a lot of the training drills and so if I was in the right frame of mind, I definitely could go out there and play football.”

Naturally for a flag-winning player in Collingwood colours, Murphy’s plight has made headlines over pre-season but he said he didn’t pay attention to the media and gushed about how his club had supported his family.

Magpies chief executive Craig Kelly recently dismissed suggestions that Murphy should consider an early retirement from the game given the number of concussions he has endured, saying he had undergone a rigorous medical evaluation late last year.

“I had a pretty whirlwind off-season but we had a strong process and I had a really good assessment with the (concussion) panel and they are professionals in this area so I trust their decision,” Murphy said.