Is Murphy in our best 22?

[Badesumofu]

FF: Williams - Roughead - Rioli
HF: Brown - Franklin - Osborne
Ce: Lewis - Mitchell - Young
HB: Hodge - Croad - Ellis
FB: Guerra - Gilham - Birchall

Ru: Campbell
RR: Sewell
Ro: Bateman

I/C: Renouf, Dew, Ladson, Tuck

This. The next two are Whitecross and Moss, who would both be very, very close to getting a spot. I just don't see what role Murphy can play if everyone is fit. Croad and Gilly are the key defenders. Birchall (who is actually taller than both those two) can take a third tall, or can play like a tall midfielder, and is just better than Murphy. Murphy is 189 CMs and can't take a key forward. His disposal isn't that great. He is not a better player than Ladson or Guerra. Where does he fit in?

He'sa great depth player, no doubt, but not in the best 22.

 

[kaitlin3017]

no i don't think that he is, nothing against murphy he is a good player but only serves one purpose at the moment and that is giving us some sort of height down back. if he had our full strength back line in murphy wouldn't be playing.

not sure about anyone else but to me murphy is so frustrating to watch- he needs to go harder sometimes

 

[Fat Tony]

No

I really cant stand this guy, often makes critical mistakes at the wrong time has mediocre disposal skills and just doesn't presents himself as a good footballer.

As for the posters above saying he beat betts and le cras lets not forget that last week the blues practically just went to fev all the time so betts didn't have that many oppurtunities and the week before that it was very slippery conditions which made it hard for le cras to dominate.

With Whitecross, Tuck, Muston, and Moss pushing for selection in our best 22 the only job i see for Murphy is back up defender in case Gilo or Croad get injured.

 

[Linda Crescent]

He's being selected every week. That means he's part of something, hey, our best 22!

What are you saying/implying? He's making up the numbers?

PS: I didn't vote in the poll.

 

[Badesumofu]

He's been part of the 22 selected players each week. Best 22 means what it sounds like, though. The question could be rephrased as: would Murphy be selected if we had no injuries or suspensions, and none of our players were underdone or under any other kind of duress?

As much as I might like to say yes, given that I like to think I'm accountable, it would mean I'd have to say who I think should miss out to make a spot for him, and I can't find anyone. There are about 24 other guys on the list who are just too good for Murphy to get a spot.

 

[cs61]

Firstly, keep in mind that we probably don't have a best 22. Its a bit obtuse to think we'd have a set in stone 22.

For example, Gilham got dropped when we played the Bulldogs last year. Murphy played in our first final due to match-ups on the dogs forwards. Against Geelong it would have been borderline, but if they were a bit taller all around maybe we may have needed to play him. If the match up is right again, then he can be in the best 22 for a given week. He is certainly good enough. The problem is we like to stack our team with great users of the ball (not that Murphy is poor, he's tidy). Ladson, Birchall, Guerra, Hodge, then Croad and Gilham. The question then is to play Murphy for cover on the bench, or play the running players.

He's definitely in our best 22-26 players, easily, so he's certainly in the ball park. I like him a lot and think he was very unlucky not to play in last year's grand final.

If I was forced to list a best 22, not knowing who we were playing it'd be, but presuming it was for a grand final.

Guerra.........Croad..........Ladson

Birchall........Gilham..........Hodge

Bateman......Sewell..........Osborne

Rioli............Roughead......Williams

Brown..........Franklin.........Dew

Foll: Campbell, Mitchell, Lewis

Int: Renouf, Ellis, Young, Tuck

Emg: Murphy, Whitecross, Moss

 

[Hawk43]

No
As for the posters above saying he beat betts and le cras lets not forget that last week the blues practically just went to fev all the time so betts didn't have that many oppurtunities and the week before that it was very slippery conditions which made it hard for le cras to dominate.

Betts has kicked the majority of his goals this year from crumbing the forwards, Carlton had 50 inside 50's on Saturday and Fev had 12 shots at goal. That leave 38 other chances for Betts, and Murph beat him fair and square. The week before was wet but Le Cras was leading the Coleman, no excuse, Murph beat him hands down. Maybe not in our best 22 but give credit where it is due

 

[lethalselbow]

Without a doubt in our best 22.

With Croad and Ellis out for long periods of time, he is without a doubt in our best 22.

Who else would you play on Steve Johnson?

 

[Halk Tawker]

Murphy is not in our best 22. Our best 22 (minus Crawf) is the premiership side. The one I would have come in for Crawf is not so simple, however I don't have Murphy on the short list. The player to come into our best 22 for Crawf is one of:

Tuck (if we're looking for a genuine midfielder)
Dowler (if we're looking for a running half-back)
Taylor (if we're wanting to increase the big-man stocks)
Moss (if we're after a crumbing forward)

I'd probably even have Whitecross ahead of Murphy. It's pretty darn obvious that if Gilham and Croad were fit, Murphy would be playing for Box Hill.

 

[Big Ronnie]

Look, Ive always thought this with 7 guys out injured he must be?