Before we snared the little champ, there was discussion that Murphy had many similarities to Ben Cousins.

After three seasons:

Season 1
Ben Cousins wins the rising star award.
Marc Murphy would've won the rising star award if not for his shoulder injury.

Season 3
Cousins runs second in WCE's B&F.
Murphy runs second in Carlton's B&F.

Cousins gains All-Australian selection

In season 4, Cousins played his first final. Fingers crossed, as will Murphy.

Stats-wise:





Murphy is streets ahead of Cousins at the same stage of their careers.

..even more impressive when you consider MM has had to do it without the use of illegal stimulants

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

..lets not talk shite, i highly doubt that benny boy started his career on the gear.. ..or at least, not enough to boost his play.. ..the difference i reckon is more for the evolution of the game.. ..it wasn't as high possession back around benny's first few seasons..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

I think Murph needs to develop his work rate to the level of Cousins to match Cousins career long term. Cousins would be one of the best gut runners of all time.

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

Reasonable comparison to make for mine. Not sure if Murph has the same endurance but he's probably more nuggety and could become physically stronger than Cuz. Did Cousins ever play international rule? Assume he did but can't recall. If Murph can stay above the Cousins graph line, we'd have to be over the moon – as we should be if he becomes only 95% of the older player. Even to reach that, he's going to have to be super-dedicated to his body off-field and application on-field. Don't know the boy but would hazard that Murph won't bring any opprobrium down on this club, let alone the amount that Cousins did on the Eagles. Given where the Eagles have gone, that must put Murph ahead.

The one area Cousins was superior to Murphy in his first three seasons, was his goal kicking, something which if Murphy can improve will put up near the top midfielders in the league.

Agreed. Murph seems to tumble the ball on to his boot. Not sure if it affects his accuracy but I don't believe it's a wise habit to get into. Would have thought it limits his flexibility some as well. Perhaps the training staff could get into his head to think about "passing" it to someone in the crowd that he can see between the sticks. It's a confidence thing so more time after training working it out as a golfer would ought to do it. Murph gets into damaging positions too often for that to be left to chance and missing easy goals helps kill momentum and can be infectious.

BKB, I was joking...should've put a at the end.

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

Comparisons are deceiving especially with 'statistical' evidence as proof. Stats are a quirky bit of toss most of the time, not solid proof, (you can make stats work for you or against you...just use the right stats).

Cousins is a champion. Murph has done fantastically for us and if he can get anywhere near Ben, (without the drug use and rock star/I'd blow myself if I could bullshit) by the end of his career then great. But as it stands, Cousins is so far superior its not funny.

But was the Cousins of 1998 superior to the Murphy of 2008? There is good reason to believe the answer is a resounding NO!

There's a resounding something...

Resounding NO! Murphy has SMASHED Cousins in his first 57 games.

If he continues at his current progression he will be 157% better than Cousins was after 100 games.

Was there any doubt?

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

His ball drop is fine it is his shoulders that are the problem. Generally when he kicks the ball he drops his left shoulder. That's what they need to work on.

Thanks, Gerard Healy. Actually, I think his shoulder and his ball drop is inconsistent - occasionally friggin brilliant, occasionally friggin awful. Cousins' ball-drop IS beautiful, like a lot of blokes who hold the ball down closer to its tip and tend to place the ball more.

Remember Braddles' ball drop. Beauuuttttiffullllll......

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Dut, de dut, de daaa!

The problem with Murph's kicking is that he has gotten into the habit of trying the spectacular worm burning pass rather than just kicking it in an orthodox manner. The problem with trying to kick these worm burners is that you have to change the angle of your boot and the ball when u kick which narrows the margain for error. The only good of these kicks is to impress people. Problem is if you stuff it up you look like you cant kick, hence most of the time you try your not relaxed enough making it very difficult.

......i know cos i try it too

Spot on vangipuss... trying to stab it so low that any slight bad drop, wrong boot contact and the kick is shot.

The only thing that i can see would hold Murph back from being a superstar could be his disposal.... he ticks all other boxes... im rapt we have this bloke, he is tougher than i thought, really gets in there

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Matty Kruzer you star!

I think Murph is the sort of guy that will work extra hard on his weaknesses to then turn them into strengths

Many players try but don't really improve, however Murph is the kind I think that will.

He is a tough little bloke both mentally & physically and is well on his way to being an A grade star of the game.

Wiggins.

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There's so much I could say...

QFT

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.