Collingwood offer Nathan Murphy role at club following early retirement

“I just want to stay around this club.”

Collingwood has offered a job to former defender Nathan Murphy, who retired from the AFL earlier this week.

Murphy – who’s been battling ongoing concussion problems since the 2023 Grand Final – confirmed he will be taking an off-field role with the Pies, admitting, “I just want to stay around this club.”

The 24-year-old was forced to hang up the boots after doctors confirmed he suffered excessive head trauma through his 57 games.

“The club’s been amazing with that, they’ve offered me a chance to come back in,” Murphy told Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

“We’ll work through what that looks like.”

The premiership player admitted he wasn’t ready to let go of the football club, despite not pulling on the guernsey anymore.

“For me, it’s been less than a week and I already miss the boys. I did all this big farewell and I’ll be saying hello to them next week,” Murphy said.

“I just want to stay around this club, there are so many good people there that I’ve been so fortunate to meet. I don’t want to lose that yet.”

As for what that job could be, Murphy already has his sights set on one area.

“I love my coaching so it’s a good chance for me to develop that as well,” Murphy said.

“The relief probably came when the panel retired me, I think deep down I knew it was the right thing for me.

“It’s been so nice, the amount of celebrations you’d think I’m a 200 game player. It’s carried on for a bit and I’ve carried on for a bit.”

But his retirement has come with a battle he now must face away from footy.

“There’s ongoing headaches, migraines, panic attacks, anxiety. It is pretty full-on. It’s tough on the people around me,” Murphy said.

“I’m in the best hands. I’m very fortunate in this position where some people aren’t.”

The club has been lauded for their generous act after it was revealed they’ll compensate Murphy.

Earlier this year, Collingwood extended his contract by one more year, despite the likelihood of his retirement call, locking him into the AIA Centre until the end of 2025.

It’s a move the club says was done to take pressure off Murphy’s decision, with fears that if he had no financial support, he may have considered coming back and risking playing again.