Collingwood leaves door ajar for Nathan Murphy to return to the fold in coaching capacity

Collingwood farewelled a beloved premiership-winning defender this week when Nathan Murphy retired due to concussion symptoms, but the club has left the door ajar for his return.

Collingwood has left the door ajar for Nathan Murphy to join its coaching ranks. Picture: Michael Klein

Craig McRae has left the door ajar for retired premiership hero Nathan Murphy to return to the club in the future, hinting an off-field or coaching role beckoned for the defender.

Murphy was forced into medical retirement after suffering at least 10 concussions across his football career, with the last coming in the 2023 AFL grand final win over Brisbane.

While the key defender’s presence on the field was not noticeable to the casual viewer, his absence in the Magpies’ backline, which has been inconsistent to start the season has been jarring.

The Magpies will face Port Adelaide on Saturday, having earned a valuable early-season bye after two straight wins to correct a spluttering 0-3 start to their premiership defence.

A hunt for back-to-back flags will push on without Murphy, having confirmed his medical retirement from the game.

McRae said the club was aware Murphy was a chance to never play again, with the Magpies set to cast an eye to the mid-season draft to find a replacement for the premiership-winning defender.

Collingwood has left the door ajar for Nathan Murphy to join its coaching ranks. Picture: Michael Klein

“We’ve been working through that the moment Murph wasn’t available for round zero,” he said.

“We’ve got some area on our list we are constantly evolving. We are not there and not finished and there are a lot of sleepless nights working out what the next move is.

“We’ve got what we’ve got and have to keep working with what we have.”

McRae said Murphy, who will have the final two years of his contract paid out, which could be worth as much as $1m, would not be “lost” to the club and officials were working through a potential ongoing role.

“This is something that has been stewing in the background for a while, so there wasn’t a sudden moment of shock,” McRae said.

“Anytime one of your valued players and cultural guys decides to walk away from the game, it’s difficult, you want to support the payer, love and support the player and his family, he’s not lost to us.

“We’d love to see him in and around the club for the next period. Whether it’s coaching or in another part of our club, it would be sad to lose him.”

McRae suggested former captain Scott Pendlebury would be “hard to leave out” for the Port Adelaide clash having recovered enough from broken ribs to train fully on Thursday morning.

Originally published as Collingwood leaves door ajar for Nathan Murphy to return to the fold in coaching capacity