Social media loses it over former AFL star’s big personal news

Footy fans have been left scratching their heads after a former Collingwood star shared some big personal news to social media.

Nathan Murphy and partner expecting a baby

Social media users have been left scratching their heads after a former Collingwood’s star huge personal news.

In a post to Instagram on Friday night, an image of Nathan Murphy was uploaded holding up an ultrasound scan while sitting alongside his smiling golden retriever, Juno.

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Murphy’s partner, Rose, captioned the upload: “keeping the ginger population thriving.”

And while plenty of love was shown to the couple in the comments section, plenty of commenters were left questioning who the announcement was for with some believing the former defender had engaged in some questionable behaviour.

Collingwood player Oleg Markov wrote: “Best day ever! Congratulations.”

One confused commenter wrote: “His partner is a dog?”

Another added: “I’m confused. You’re having a kid or a puppy?”

A fourth wrote: “They didn’t think this through did they?”

While some were left confused, it was clear from the upload the happy couple’s family is set to expand with a baby in 2025.

Mini Murph 🥹

Huge congratulations to Nathan Murphy and his partner Rose on their special news 🫶🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/FDz9693aLg

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) September 6, 2024

While it’s happy times for Murphy in his personal life, he was far from it when he called time on his football career in April.

The club announced that after careful consideration and on advice of the medical concussion panel, the decision was made for the 24-year-old to medically retire from the sport.

Murphy, who has been with Collingwood for seven years, informed teammates and football department staff of his decision in a team meeting on Tuesday.

“I feel it is the right time and the right decision for me to hang up my footy boots,” Murphy, who had suffered 10 concussions throughout his career, said.

“I love my football, but my priority is on my future and ensuring I live a full and healthy life.

“I’d like to thank the Club, coaches, teammates, staff and the Magpie Army for all their support throughout my playing career and for allowing me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream of playing AFL.

Murphy helped off during the Grand Final. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

The defender announcing his retirement. Picture: Supplied

“To my family and friends, I couldn’t have gone through this journey without your continued love and support which I am so grateful for.

“It is not lost on me how fortunate I am to have been able to experience premiership success with this group and Club. I hope I did the jumper proud and thank the many people and supporters who helped me along the way.

“I will forever cherish the memories and friends I’ve made at our great Club.”

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said it was a “shame” to see Murphy’s career end like this.

“He was courageous to a fault,” Buckley said on SEN radio.

“It took a while for us to work out where to play him, he had a slight build coming in.

“He went down back and kept going back into the hole and knocking himself out.

“He really struggled through his first 24 months in the AFL system and he blossomed when he got his opportunity as a tall back and was a part of the premiership last year.

“It’s a real shame for him from a professional standpoint, but he’s a great young man, he’s made a decision that along with the medicos that he has had to make and he has a bright future ahead of him with whatever he wants to chase because of the character that he is.”