Gold Coast Suns defender Tom Muprhy at Kurrawa Beach. Picture: Adam Head Source: The Courier-Mail
GUY McKenna gets his Suns general back this week.
Tom Murphy is set to return to marshal the Gold Coast defence against Port Adelaide on Saturday at Metricon Stadium, but ruckman Charlie Dixon will miss after scans showed he had a slight tear in his achilles.
Tom Lynch has now played two reserves games and is a candidate to replace Dixon, while Dion Prestia will also push for selection after missing last week with a hip problem.
Skipper Gary Ablett is still experiencing discomfort to his injured hand, but has been cleared by scans of any serious damage and has declared himself a certain starter.
"I'll be ready to go this weekend," Ablett said. "I've got to get through training on Wednesday night, but the hand's not feeling too bad. I can't really clench it yet but I'm sure it'll be fine for the weekend."
Murphy arrived from the Hawks as the heartbreak story of trade week after he played two finals, but missed the grand final.
It was a nightmare scenario he had already lived through once before in 2008.
But he has quickly become indispensible for McKenna, who likens him to Collingwood skipper Nick Maxwell. McKenna had a close association with Maxwell during his time as defence coach at the Magpies.
Muprhy missed the two-point loss to the Lions last Saturday with a shoulder problem and McKenna later said Gold Coast's defensive structures suffered in his absence.
It is obvious in the briefest discussion with Murphy that he is a student of the game and possesses a sharp tactical mind.
McKenna relies on him to ensure the plans put in place in midweek meetings and practiced on the training track are implemented on game day.
Murphy relishes the responsibility saying it helps him to remain focused on the game and added he learnt from Hawks skipper Luke Hodge that communication was one of the greatest skills a footballer could possess.
"It's natural for me to be an organiser, it is the reason why I was in the leadership group at Hawthorn," he said.
"In modern footy, the ability to talk and communicate and organise is as important as being able to kick and mark the footy.
"I reckon an extremely well organised side will beat a side that relies on pure talent. The beauty here is that in a few years we will be both -- there's some very talented players here."
Murphy is a firm believer that any plan is better than no plan because it ensures defences work as a team and says if the opposition throws a tactical curve ball, he is happy to take charge until fresh instructions arrive from the coach.
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