ON the eve of his 250th AFL game, Marc Murphy is excited to see what a young Carlton side can achieve this season.

Speaking to the media on Monday morning, the veteran praised the development of the Blues’ emerging young list throughout the pre-season and JLT Community Series.

"We have a lot of new faces working together so I think the chance to work in match form was really good for us,” Murphy said.

“From our point of view, it was good to score well and see some of the young guys who are really fit and firing and performing at the level.

“I think the guys are believing in themselves now.”

After stepping away from the captaincy at the end of last season, Murphy has embraced the opportunity to focus purely on football, free from external expectation.

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"It was certainly the right time for Cripps and Doc to take the reins and they have been doing a fantastic job,” he said.

“Personally, I have a lot of pride about my performance and it doesn’t mean I’ll be going out there with any less expectation of myself.

“For me, it’s about enjoying my footy and I have been doing that over the pre-season."

Blues fans might have to get familiar with seeing the dual best and fairest winner play a different role this season, with an impressive midfield pedigree allowing the veteran to explore other positions.

“We have some really good young talent that will play more in the centre bounce, which will force me to play on the wing, half-forward and half-back,” he said.

"The more versatile I can get, the better it is for us for a team and I am enjoying playing that role at the moment.”

The young Carlton outfit will not be daunted by facing the premiership favourite Richmond come Thursday night, with Murphy believing the young midfielders in particular would embrace the contest.

“It is a real challenge for our young group,” he said.

‘I believe we have some depth in our midfield and those guys are really looking forward to taking on premiership players.”

Those hoping to see Murphy play game 300 and beyond will be buoyed by the fact the All Australian has had an uninterrupted pre-season after battling plantar fasciitis last year.

“Mentally, I am really excited and hopefully physically over the next few years my body can hold up,” he said

“I am positive about where this football club is at and where we are going and hopefully, I can hang on for as long as I can.”