Australian Football

Joe Murdoch is perhaps best remembered for an altercation with Gordon Coventry during a match in 1936, as a result of which both players were reported, and the Collingwood champion was suspended for eight weeks, missing his club's Grand Final win against South Melbourne. However, he deserves to be remembered for much more, as he was a key element in Richmond's success during the early 1930s.

Big, rugged and uncompromising, Murdoch was also a superb high mark, and one of the longest kicks in the Richmond team. He made his VFL debut in 1927, and went on to amass 180 league games over the next ten seasons, including successful Grand Finals in 1932 and 1934. Some of his best games for the Tigers were on occasions when they had their backs to the wall, such as the losing Grand Finals of 1928, 1929 and 1933, in all of which he featured highly on the best player lists. For most of his career he alternated between the two key defensive positions, but like most defenders he was far from averse to embarking on the odd stint ahead of centre.

Another well-worn anecdote regarding Murdoch concerns the time he thrashed a young Jack Dyer in a practice game. Dyer of course went on to become one of the greatest legends of the game, but as a young hopeful he was lined up against Murdoch in a scratch match by Tiger coach 'Checker' Hughes, and by all accounts failed to touch the ball.

Author - John Devaney