Tag: Brad Murphy

Back-to-back wins “reward for effort”

Calder Cannons finding form

Written by Jarryd Barca

While the Calder Cannons Under 18 boys recorded back-to-back NAB League wins for the first time this season when they downed the Bendigo Pioneers in a dour Round 6 battle, assistant coach Brad Murphy believes it was only a matter of time.

“You could argue a case that we should be 5-1, (we were) in front of Oakleigh at three-quarter time and they’re the best side in it apparently and we had our chances against Tasmania as well,” he said. 

“It is reward for effort. We only made one change as well this week which was a forced change, if Sammy Graham wasn’t playing tomorrow there probably wouldn’t have been a change made and that’s a sign of stability and a sign of faith from the coach as well to put the faith in the guys.

“I wouldn’t imagine that there will be too many changes again next week so it was great to get back-to-back wins.

“It was a good, ugly win.” 

Calder prospectively faced a tough start to the season with matches against the highly-fancied Sandringham Dragons and Oakleigh Chargers to kick off its 2019 NAB League campaign. 

But they’re 3-1 since that point and playing with a confidence that Murphy thinks can drive them forward for the remainder of the season. 

“We’re 3-3 which is reality and are stuck in the ruck, with games coming up against sides that are against us on the ladder,” he explained. 

“If we can win those then I don’t see why we can’t be in the top four.” 

Murphy puts the Round 6 win down to what has proven to be an uncharacteristic fast start to the game.

The Cannons kicked the opening four goals of the contest to kick off proceedings – the first time in three matches they registered a major in the first term.

“It was a real focus coming in, obviously winning the toss and kicking with a decent wind in the first quarter probably helped.

“And efficiency as well I think we kicked four or five goals straight and then maybe kicked a point after that so all those things added up to starting well.

“The main focus for us as well was tackling. I think we had 20 tackles in the first quarter and plus we were in front in possession in the first quarter so I think all those things added up to a really good start and probably won us the game in the end.”


Resilience the key in maiden victory

Calder Cannons flex the resilience muscle in NAB League win

Written by Jarryd Barca

The ability to bounce back from – and overcome – adversity is a crucial life quality, even on the footy field. 

Calder Cannons backline coach Brad Murphy admitted there were some nervous moments in the Under 18 boys’ Round 3 win over the Western Jets last Saturday when inaccuracy seemed to plague the side.

Calder was able to establish a healthy lead when it scored seven of the opening nine goals of the contest at Highgate Recreation Reserve, until seven of the next 10 went the Jets’ way.

The Cannons registered seven behinds in their final 10 scoring shots of the game when the four points were well and truly in the balance. 

A 15-point half-time lead to the home side faded to just three points at the last change of ends and it took nearly 17 minutes for the dominant fourth-quarter Cannons to put through a major, courtesy of Campbell Edwardes. 

But luckily they weren’t left to rue their missed chances. 

“I’m very proud,” Murphy said post-game.

“It’s very hard when you get a spray like that from the coach (at three-quarter time).

“I was a little bit concerned at three quarter time when scores were only a few points the difference and they had a bit of a wind in the last quarter. 

“He (coach Ross Smith) challenged them all at three-quarter time to step up and some players can go introverted, or they can come out of their shell a little bit and I think the boys really came out of their shell (in the final quarter).

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the efforts of the players. 

“We had a couple of injuries down so we couldn’t get some rotations happening. Sometimes you just have to play the last quarter on adrenaline and we certainly did, there was a lot of cramping going on but for them to push through and get the result is fantastic.

“I’m very proud and obviously more so going forward, I think it will give them amazing confidence and belief that we can do it no matter the situation in a game.”

It was the team’s first victory in the newly-named NAB League for season 2019 after losing by 109 and 23 points against the Sandringham Dragons and Oakleigh Charges in Rounds 1 and 2 respectively. 

“I think we had to keep it in reality in the first two weeks, we played two of the best sides and we took a lot of confidence probably out of last week more against Oakleigh – we were in front at half time and two points down at three-quarter time against one of the best so we knew our best was going to be good enough,” Murphy said.

“I thought the buy-in and the endeavour from the whole group today was pleasing and the result looked after itself, although we could have kicked a bit straighter, but we had a win.”

Murphy said he was impressed with the entire midfield group against the Jets, as well as youngster Jack Keeping who channeled his inner Jeremy Howe in the final term. 

“To see the emergence of young Jack Keeping who’s had seven or eight touches in the last quarter, taking two big hangers – when the game had to be won for a 17-year-old kid to step up in his first year of Under 18 footy that was really impressive as well, but I just thought the whole group were really good on the day,” he said.

The Cannons will look to make it two wins in a row when they fly south to take on the Tasmanian devils on Sunday. 

“It’ll be good to get away, I think the bonding you get off an interstate trip is fantastic,” Murphy said. 

“If you get a win they’re really great interstate because it doesn’t happen much, so it will be really good for the boys.”