'It's OK to be jealous, Cal': Bob Murphy talks to injured GWS captain

Bob Murphy and Callan Ward, who were teammates and great friends at the Western Bulldogs, have much in common. In 2011, Ward left to be one of three inaugural co-captains of Greater Western Sydney. Former Bulldogs captain Murphy famously missed the 2016 premiership because of a season-ending knee injury. Ward suffered the same injury in round four this year, and will watch the Giants' grand final against Richmond from the bench.

Bob Murphy: Cal, there's a lot going on in your life. You're about to become a father – Ruby's pregnant – and your footy club's in the grand final. How does that feel?

Callan Ward: Amazing, we've really wanted a baby for a long time so finally, glad she's pregnant. It's very exciting with everything going on with grand final weekend, and we're looking forward to having a baby in five months' time.

Heart and soul: Former Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy and Giants co-captain Callan WardCredit: Joe Armao, AFL Media/Getty Images

Murphy: Can you articulate for me the pride you have this week, being one of the original Giants? 

Ward: When we first got to the footy club it wasn't really a football club. We didn't have an oval, the showers were cold and it was tough. The age demographic of the players was on average 19 and that's including the experienced players. All eyes were on me to be the leader, and I had just turned 21 at the time, so it was pretty intense personally.

Murphy: Were there moments in the early years where it would take its toll on you, getting regularly thumped? Was there ever a sense of hopelessness?

Ward: Yes, there probably was, I mean in the first year there were no expectations, so it was tough getting thumped but it was expected. Whereas the second year I was expecting it to get better and to win more games but we really struggled, we probably went backwards.

Murphy: What's grand final week meant to you in past years?

Ward: I've never got there so it's always been a week where I was so jealous of everybody that's in it. I always thought to myself, I cannot wait to be out there playing. Especially on grand final day when I'm at my mates' house having a BBQ, I'd always tell myself, "This will be me one day". Since being at the Giants, it's also knowing and believing deep down that it will be me one day.

Murphy: What's your role this week? As co-captain, but clearly it's a unique situation.

Ward: I don't want to be the one that everyone's feeling sorry for, or the hard luck story, because I see my role as really important. My role this week is to be as supportive as I can be, encourage the boys and continue to drive the confidence and belief we need going into the game. I want to enjoy the week as much as I can, be involved in any way I can and make sure it's a memorable week for all of us.

Murphy: You and I share a few similarities, both devilishly handsome, both tough inside midfield players, both captains of the club. One of the things I noticed as captain is that you become in tune with all others players' situations – who's in, who's out, who's feeling good, who's out of favour. Part of grand final week is [that] there are tough situations and you've got a few teammates in a tough spot: Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield, Brett Deledio is in an almost unbearably cruel situation ... How are you handling all that?

Ward: I do get told about how everyone is going, what they're thinking, I speak to the players that may be coming back like Lachie and Toby [Greene] and get an understanding of what they're going through as well, but also more importantly the guys who might get dropped. One of the most difficult things about this game is you can only play 22 players out of 45. Our players understand that's the way it is and one thing I've been saying all week is that the boys who aren't playing are genuinely so excited for the ones that are. We've come such a long way in the last two or three months in our pride for each other as teammates.

Murphy: What round did you hurt your knee?

Ward: Round four against Geelong.

Murphy: That's hard enough, doing your knee and you're captain of the club. When did you start to think the boys could go all the way this year?

Ward is helped from the field after suffering a season-ending knee injury against Geelong.Credit: AAP

Ward: I look at round four in the game I got injured and we had to find something deep in that game after I went down, there was a bit of emotion, and it was almost like the players rallied around, dug in there and performed. I remember we sang the song as a full club, and that was the moment when everybody looked around and thought, "Wow, that was the best game we've been involved in, not the best we've ever played, but the significance of it". Then our group just galvanised going into the finals, we were the underdogs going into that game against the Dogs, and it probably wasn't until that week before the first final we really believed it.

Murphy: Has there been part of you this year, from round four, where you've been preparing yourself to be the skipper sitting on the sidelines come grand final day?

Ward: When I went down with my knee I thought I'd give it everything I can to come back, because if we were going to play in a premiership I wanted to be part of that as a player and a captain. The surgeon was not fully against it, so that gave me hope, but everyone else I spoke to said, "You've got your whole career in front of you, don't rush back". It got to three months post-operation and things weren't going to plan so I ruled it out completely and ever since I did that, my focus completely changed from being a captain and a player to being a support mechanism for the players and the whole club. I've found my role on game day, working closely with the players when they come off the ground. Any time it feels like the players appreciate what I have to offer, it feels like I'm doing a good role.

Murphy:  I'm conscious of not bringing myself into this although there is a clear line of similarity. Have you found that when you're around the boys and you've got the leadership role it's like a life raft to hold onto, but when you're away from the club, at home, those have been the tough moments?

Ward: Yeah, 100 per cent, when it comes to game day, having that role on the bench has helped me so much. When I couldn't do anything except for watch, I hated every second of it. I had to find my role to help. It was a loneliness and just a realisation that never in my career have I had no control on the game. I couldn't feel helpless the whole season so that was the moment I tried to find a way to enjoy it and offer anything I can to help. Having more involvement with the players, not just on game day, but being there for them, has helped me enormously.

Murphy holds up the 2016 premiership cup with Easton Wood.Credit: AAP

Murphy: Your wife Ruby has been a massive support in the tough, private moments. Have there been others you've leant on?

Ward: Ruby has always been amazing and knows me more than anybody, so I can't thank her enough. I've always been very close to my family, calling my three sisters on the way home from training, and mum and dad. They understand the feelings I've been getting, especially in the last month. I'm not jealous, that sounds a bit negative, I'm envious.

Murphy: You've got to allow yourself, Cal, that people understand. You can actually have the two competing emotions, at least that's what I've come to learn about it. Jealousy is the word, but you're proud as well. It's OK to be both.

Ward: My family are understanding of what I've been wanting to do ever since I was drafted but pretty much my whole life and being part of my journey at the Giants for eight and a half years. There was a moment last week after the prelim and I was so happy and excited. I went to take my sister into the rooms, and she was bawling her eyes out. I thought they were happy tears. She started saying, "I'm so proud of you and they're only in there because you've done so much work".  It got me a bit emotional, I starting crying with her and hugging her. I started to get a bit down, because on one hand I'm so happy for the club and genuinely so excited for this week, but on the other I do wish I could play and help the boys win. I keep telling myself my time will come one day and this is all just part of my journey as an AFL player.

Ward with wife Ruby at the GWS Brownlow event earlier this week.Credit: Getty Images

Murphy: That's pretty powerful, mate. Are you emotionally prepared for this weekend? Have you got an emotional strategy?

Ward: No, I don't have an emotional strategy at all. So far so good. I'm enjoying the massive buzz around the footy club and I just want to be there and be all in. I don't know what will be going through my head but I know I'm going to be as supportive as I can. I've had a lot of people texting me to let me know they're thinking of me. I've said my whole rehab journey, I'm very fortunate with what I do, this isn't a life or death situation. I'm so grateful for being part of this journey.

Murphy: What would a win mean for your footy club?

Ward: You can't help but think about winning. You dream of being a premiership player and being a co-captain of the club and to understand how far we've come, to win the premiership after eight years would be huge for not just the club, but for Canberra, for western Sydney and growing the game there, and our fans who have been there from day one. The reason I came to this club in the first place is because I thought there was a chance for a premiership, and starting something brand new. To be part of that from day one, to be part of a premiership would be huge.

Murphy: Whatever happens, it's going to be dramatic and emotional, and that's just because it's grand final day. But there's something pretty special about your group. As your friend, just know that I'll be riding every bump with you. We admire your spirit and your perspective, how true you are to yourself and to that footy club. To quote you, your time will come one day, my friend. I can't wait to see that.

Ward: I hope so, Bob, thanks mate.