Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy has announced he will retire from the AFL after multiple concussions.
The 24-year-old’s last professional match was the 2023 AFL grand final when his team defeated the Brisbane Lions. During that game, Murphy received a head knock and was diagnosed with the 10th concussion of his life.
Murphy was cleared to return to play in December. However, following expert advice from the AFL’s medical concussion panel, he has now announced he’ll retire from professional football.
Nathan Murphy
Murphy was a key player in Collingwood’s premiership-winning season last year. The 24-year-old played 57 games in the AFL, after being drafted by Collingwood in 2017.
Murphy said it was the “right time” to leave the game, and that his priority was to live a “full and healthy life”.
He said he decided to retire based on medical advice with the support of the AFL.
Concussion
Murphy is the second AFL player to retire due to concussion this year.
Melbourne Demons premiership player Angus Brayshaw retired in February after medical scans found microscopic changes to his brain after a recent concussion.
It comes after a group of former players sued the AFL last year, alleging it failed to take action to prevent player concussions and head injuries.
Safety measures
In a report handed down in December, the Victorian Coroners Court recommended AFL clubs consider stronger safety measures to support players.
This included a limit on contact training. The AFL said it’s consulting clubs as it considers that limit.
It also strengthened its concussion guidelines ahead of the 2023 season the same week the class action lawsuit was launched.
