Premiership-winning footy star Nathan Murphy is forced to retire aged just 24 – here’s why the AFL should be VERY worried

Collingwood premiership defender Nathan Murphy has been forced into a premature and immediate retirement from the AFL to ensure he lives a ‘full and healthy life’ after a series of concussions.

Murphy is the sixth AFL player to retire due to concussion in a 12-month period. He joins Angus Brayshaw [Melbourne]Paddy McCartin [Sydney]Paul Zaadman [Adelaide]Marcus Adams [Brisbane] and Max Lynch [Hawthorn].

It’s a worrying pattern for the AFL, with the league scrambling to manage the lingering effects of concussion and its link to brain conditions such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy. [CTE].

Murphy suffered concussion from a high hit in the grand final early last year and has not played since, with the defender ruled out of match simulation training in February.

Murphy will retire at the age of 24, becoming the second AFL player to retire this year due to concussion, following Angus Brayshaw’s announcement in February

The Magpies said after careful consideration, with the advice of the AFL’s medical concussion panel, the decision was made for Murphy to ‘medically retire’ from football.

Murphy informed Magpies teammates of his retirement in an emotional meeting on Tuesday morning after sitting out the first part of the season due to ongoing concussion concerns.

The star backman was concussed for the 10th time in his football career in the first half of last year’s grand final, with his playing future left to the AFL’s independent concussion panel.

The panel ruled Murphy could return to the field in December, but he decided to retire after withdrawing from Collingwood training on the eve of the February matches.

Murphy is the second player this year to retire due to a concussion suffered in last year’s finals series, after Melbourne midfielder Angus Brayshaw called time off in February.

“I believe this is the right time and decision to retire my football boots,” Murphy said in a statement.

‘I love football, but my priority is my future and making sure I live a full and healthy life.

“I would like to thank the club, coaches, teammates, staff and the Magpie Army for all their support throughout my playing career and for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my childhood dream of playing AFL.

“It is not lost on me how fortunate I am to have experienced premiership success with this group and club.

‘I hope I have done the jumper proud and would like to thank the many people and supporters who helped me along the way.’

As a key defender, Murphy often threw his head into tough games, which played a role in the concussion that ended his career prematurely.

A no-nonsense defender who made 57 appearances, Murphy was one of the most crucial cogs in Magpies coach Craig McRae’s system as the side quickly rose to the top of the league in 2022.

Murphy returned to the senior side in Round 10 of 2022 after a frustrating run of injuries in his first few seasons.

His first eleven games at Collingwood were all wins as he forged a brilliant backline partnership with Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe.

Collingwood football boss Brendon Bolton said Murphy would be remembered at the club for his “sheer courage” and important contributions off the field.

“On behalf of everyone at Collingwood, we thank Nathan for his contribution to our club and commend him for the maturity he has shown during this period,” Bolton said in a statement.

While we will miss ‘Murph’, he will forever be part of Collingwood’s history as a premiership player in 2023.

“On behalf of the entire club, we wish him all the best for this next chapter.”

His retirement comes as the AFL faces a huge class action from more than 30 former players who are suing the league after being left in the lurch by head-butting.