CARLTON veteran Marc Murphy will join elite company this weekend, as he prepares to pull on the Navy Blue for the 300th time.
The 34-year-old’s impending triple ton will see him become just the sixth Blue to achieve the milestone, joining Carlton greats John Nicholls, Bruce Doull, Craig Bradley, Stephen Silvagni and Kade Simpson in the esteemed 300 club.
Cementing his legacy as one of the modern-day greats of the Carlton Football Club, the 300-mark would be another significant achievement for Murphy over his 16-year career that includes two John Nicholls Medals and an All Australian honour.
Senior Coach David Teague said the veteran Blue deserved his place amongst the Club’s all-time greats when he runs out this weekend as part of the side’s selected 22 against Port Adelaide.
“Getting to 300 games is a significant achievement for Marc and one that we are all honoured to celebrate with him,” Teague said.
“Marc has been a great player for our football club for a very long time, he is truly one of the modern-day greats in Navy Blue.
“He captained this football club through an incredible difficult period, making this 300-game milestone even more special and only adds to the esteem in which he is held at our football club.”
A member of the Blues’ leadership group for 12 of his 16 seasons, Murphy captained the Club for six years from 2013 to the end of 2018.
Co-captain Patrick Cripps, who took the reins from Murphy alongside Sam Docherty in 2018, paid tribute to his predecessor.
“'Murph' was someone I’d admired growing up with how he played the game but what stood out when I got to the club is how good of a bloke he is,” Cripps said.
“He always looks out for people around him and has always had the ability to connect with all ages in the group.
“He’s someone that led from the front in a difficult time in the Club’s history and kept fronting up to take the club forward.
“It’s been a massive honour to play alongside him and I can’t wait to play with him again in his 300th.”
