Brad Murphy has arrived at St Albans seeking the “ultimate success”.
Murphy, who takes over as coach of the Saints from the departed Fab Carelli, believes his career will be unfulfilled unless he can stand up on the podium as a premiership winning player-coach.
“The goal is to raise that cup,” Murphy said.
“We’re starting from a pretty low base, but hopefully we can get ourselves into a position to fight for a premiership because that’s the reason we play football.”
Murphy has enjoyed a decorated career as a player. The 32-year-old reached the big league with the Western Bulldogs and played in the Victorian Football League with the Werribee Tigers.
He went deep into the finals with Hoppers Crossing and coached the Melton Bloods for four years.
Murphy is proud of his three premierships as coach of Hoppers Crossing’s under-18 team, but it will leave a hole in his career if he can’t win a senior premiership.
“I’ve always wanted the ultimate success,” Murphy said.
“I’m like a kid at Christmas, I’ve been laying in bed the last few nights, thinking about things for next year already.
“It’s super exciting and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
The appointment of Murphy raised a few eyebrows in the St Albans inner sanctum. He was close to enemy No.1 when playing for Hoppers Crossing.
“To be honest, some of the best dust-ups I’ve been involved in were against
St Albans,” he said with a chuckle.
“A few of the senior players from St Albans that I’ve played against in the past said ‘gee, 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have expected you would be coaching us’.”
Murphy answered the call from close mate Damien Fitzpatrick, a St Albans stalwart who was concerned the club was on a downward spiral. Fitzpatrick will be Murphy’s main assistant coach.
Murphy has already been made to feel welcome at St Albans.
“So many people that rang me, some that I don’t even know that well, and offered to help,” Murphy said.
“It just shows it’s a proud club, it has a long history and everyone wants it to get back to where it belongs.”
