It will be a significant milestone for the 26-year-old defender, who endured plenty of heartbreak during his eight seasons at Hawthorn – being named as an emergency in the 2008 premiership and 2012 AFL Grand Final.
With a fresh start needed to his AFL career, Murphy jumped at the opportunity to join the fledging Gold Coast SUNS – and is enjoying basking in the city’s famous sunshine and footy lifestyle according to the reliable backman.
“I’m really enjoying my football and life on the Gold Coast, and playing with such a young group of players has certainly made me feel more rejuvenated,” said Murphy.
While the former Hawk says he’s sole concern heading into this season was helping the GC SUNS taste team success, he admits the milestone match will hold some person significance when he runs out on Saturday night under the lights at Metricon Stadium.
“If you’d ask me at the start of my career that I’d have played 100 games, I would have been pretty speechless.”
“It’s certainly a milestone I’ll look back on at the end of my career.”
Despite Murphy conceding the 100-game induction is more reflective of his time spent with his former AFL Club, he says he is hoping to build on his current tally by playing out the next century of games with the expansion side.
“It is probably moreso at reflection at my time at Hawthorn, but at the same time I’m glad that I could be celebrating it at the Gold Coast,” said Murphy.
“I’d certainly like to reach 200 career games, and couldn’t think of a better team to achieve it with.”
