Docherty standing down

[tonyo]

At 24yo Marc Murphy was named AFLCA MVP, was in the AA team, beat out Judd for the CFC B+F and was regarded as one of the best players in the league.
At 24yo Cripps was named AFLPA MVP, was in the AA team (2nd time), won his 3rd B+F and was regarded as one of the best players in the league.

For the final 9 years of his career, Marc Murphy won 1 B+F. No more AA's or other awards.
For the last 2 years of his career so far, Cripps has won.....nothing.

Murphy peaked, played some good enough footy, but was never the same standard after 24.
Cripps has peaked, played some very average footy since and may not reach the same standard as he had previously.

So yeah, same same? Prove me wrong.

I think you'll find Murphy's best years coincided with the time he was playing in the midfield alongside Judd, Gibbs, Mitch Robinson, Carrazzo, just to name a few.  In those days, he rarely got tagged, and there was a bit of muscle around him.

As soon as those guys retired or departed, he became a target and his game was never as potent again.

Cripps has spent most of the last 5 seasons with at least one, sometime 2 or 3 hanging off him for most of the game.

I honestly don't think Cripps and Murphy should be compared - totally different types of players.

If Cripps can get even some of the clean air that Smurf enjoyed while the taggers were chasing Judd, I think you might find his form will be heading northwards.