Ahead of the GVL’s final training session under lights at Deakin Reserve on Wednesday night, the Seymour skipper was all smiles with regular game day rivals.
It’s part of what the league’s best are aiming to build for the representative match on Saturday - connection.
While actual training has been sporadic in the lead up to the Elsternwick Park encounter, Murphy said the group has still spent time learning about one another on a regular basis.
“It’s really good to come together and play and train along the elite guys in the competition,” Murphy said.
“We’re rivals most Saturdays, but this weekend we get to come together and join forces, so it’s a really cool experience and I think everyone in this group here is really looking forward to it, because you finally get to be on the same team and join up with some of the quality guys in the competition.
“We haven’t trained a hell of a lot, but we’ve been really focused on building connection between the group.
“We come from all across the league so to build that connection is probably the number one thing you need to focus on.
“It is a short time together, so you’ve got to make the most of it.”
With stars across all lines, Murphy expects his role to be significantly different to usual duties at the Lions, but acknowledges that embracing that is part of what makes an interleague triumph possible.
“It’s going to be quite different to playing at club land, I think everyone here is because they’re high quality, so you might have to play a different role,” he said.
“But it’s such a selfless group, there’ll be guys that play preferred position at times and at times they’ll play in an altered position, and that’s totally fine.
“I think embracing that challenge is great, but even if you find yourself in a position you’re not familiar with, you know you’ve got some stars alongside you to make it easier.”
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