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Joe Murdoch
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Arthur "Joe" Murdoch (30 October 1908 – 26 December 2002) was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL in between 1927 and 1936 for the Richmond Football Club.
Key Information
Murdoch was an exceptionally tough defender who was at the forefront of an exceptional backline that held the formidable South Melbourne and Collingwood attacks numerous times in important matches during the 1930s. For his size, Murdoch had exceptionally good ground skills and would always use his strength to his advantage when the ball was loose.[3]
He was capable of playing in any position on the backline, for most of his career fitting in as required to accommodate other defenders such as Maurie Sheahan, Martin Bolger and Basil McCormack. He played in the losing 1928 VFL Grand Final side and in the 1932 VFL premiership side as a centre-half-back, whilst in the losing 1929 VFL grand final side Murdoch was on the half-back flank and in the 1931 VFL grand final, Murdoch played at full-back. By the time of the 1934 VFL premiership side Richmond were so well-equipped with top defenders that Murdoch was moved to the forward line where he kicked a goal – despite having between Rounds Nine and Fourteen of that season held the VFL record for most games without kicking a goal.[4][5]
Murdoch was reported in round 13, 1936, when he was involved in a fight with Collingwood legend Gordon Coventry.[6] Though Coventry was judged the instigator of the conflict and was suspended for eight weeks, Murdoch was on Tuesday 4 August found guilty of retaliating and suspended for four matches.[7] Murdoch returned to the seniors for Richmond's last match in round 18, then in 1937 he returned to his home town of Castlemaine, as captain-coach.[8]
Murdoch was captain-coach of Castlemaine in the Castlemaine District Football Association in 1937, 1940, 1941, 1944 and 1945, winning premierships in 1941 and 1944 and played with Castlemaine from 1937 to 1949.
In 1939, Murdoch played several matches for Maryborough in the Ballarat Football League under a special day permit.[9]
References
[edit]- Citations
- ^ "1927 - "Joe" Murdoch is Richmond's Youngest Player". Richmond Guardian (Vic. : 1884 - 1887; 1894 - 1897; 1900 - 1936). 30 July 1927. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- ^ Richard Jones. "2011 - BFL greats inducted into AFL Halls of Fame". Country Footy Scores. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- ^ Main, Jim and Holmesby, Russell (editors); The Encyclopedia of League Footballers (1st edition); pp. 314–315. ISBN 1-86337-085-4
- ^ See Lovett, Michael; AFL Record: Guide to Season 2005; p. 573. ISBN 0-9580300-6-5
- ^ AFL Tables: Joe Murdoch
- ^ "1936 - Football Brawl". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 3 August 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- ^ "1936 - DISQUALIFIED FOR LONG TERMS G. COVENTRY, EIGHT GAMES". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 5 August 1936. p. 12. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- ^ "1937 - Coaching Appointments". The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 16 April 1937. p. 15. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- ^ "1939 - Bendigo League". The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 31 August 1939. p. 8. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- Bibliography
- Hogan P: The Tigers of Old, Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996
Links
[edit]- Joe Murdoch player profile via Tigerland Archive