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6 months ago
24
Retired Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy has shared a troubling update after being forced to retire at just 24 years of age last month.
The 2023 premiership winner retired from AFL in April to ensure he lives a 'full and healthy life' after suffering multiple concussions.
The Magpies, following advice from the AFL's medical concussion panel, decided to 'medically retire' Murphy, who was concussed for the 10th time during last year's grand final.
Although the panel cleared him to play in December, he chose to retire after withdrawing from training in February.
Collingwood premiership defender Nathan Murphy (pictured) has revealed he is still suffering from concussion symptoms six weeks into his forced retirement
Murphy was forced into medical retirement after a series of concussions, including one he suffered in the 2023 AFL grand final
Now, more thansix weeks into retirement, Murphy revealed he still feels concussion symptoms daily.
'It's been tough watching the boys play,' he said.
'I'm still battling symptoms every day and working with professionals to hopefully improve that.
'I've been supported amazingly which I'm so fortunate to have, other people don't have that on offer.
'I'm in a really good space and focused on my health with good people around me.'
Murphy is the second player this year to retire due to concussions from last year's finals, following Melbourne midfielder Angus Brayshaw.
Melbourne Demons star Angus Brayshaw (pictured centre with his fiancee Danielle Frawley, right) was also forced to retire early because of repeated head knocks
Former No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin had to walk away from the game twice because of concussions, first with St Kilda and later after a comeback with the Sydney Swans
He is the sixth AFL player to retire because of concussions in the past year, joining Brayshaw, Paddy McCartin [Sydney], Paul Seedsman [Adelaide], Marcus Adams [Brisbane], and Max Lynch [Hawthorn].
An alarming one in ten AFL players hide concussions, according to a recent survey.
Murphy is now supporting Connor's Run, Australia's largest event for pediatric brain cancer.
He, along with Essendon stars Archie Perkins and Andrew McGrath and Collingwood's Brayden Maynard, is an ambassador for the event on September 15.
Connor's Run commemorates Robert Connor Dawes, who died of brain cancer at 18.
'I'm an ex-Brighton Grammar boy, and I remember in my first year I was in year 8 and we had the big funeral for Connor,' Murphy said.
'It was amazing and awesome to see the community aspect and I've done the run since the first year. Being a retired footballer now I am able to jump on board.'
The AFL is currently negotiating a settlement to support former players affected by head injuries. Peter Jess, a prominent advocate for concussion awareness in the AFL, suggests the league should allocate up to $20 million annually for these players.
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