Leonard Murphy (23 November 1909 – 20 December 1996)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood and Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL). His older brother Frank played beside him for much of his career.

Len Murphy
Murphy during his Collingwood career
Personal information
Full name Leonard Murphy
Date of birth 23 November 1909
Place of birth Bairnsdale, Victoria
Date of death 20 December 1996(1996-12-20) (aged 87)
Original team(s) Williamstown (VFA)
Height 189 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1927 Williamstown (VFA) 015 00(7)
1928–1937 Collingwood 173 (105)
1938 Nhill
1939 Oakleigh (VFA) 016 0(15)
1940–1941 Footscray 025 0(28)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1941.
Career highlights
  • Collingwood premiership player 1928–30
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Football

edit

Murphy played mainly in the ruck and was a member of a Collingwood side which was a force in the VFL during the 1930s.

They had just won a premiership when he joined the club and his debut season of 1928 saw them go back to back, with Murphy kicking two goals in their grand final win over Richmond. Collingwood won the flag again in 1929 and 1930 with Murphy a member of both premiership sides. He missed out on the 1935 premiership after being injured and again the following year due to suspension.

At the end of 1937 he left the club and joined Nhill as captain-coach.

He returned to Melbourne and served as captain-coach of Victorian Football Association club Oakleigh in 1939, before making a return to the league in 1940 with Footscray.[2]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ "Len Murphy". Collingwood Forever. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  2. ^ "Murphy cleared to Footscray". The Argus. Melbourne. 17 April 1940. p. 17.
edit