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Murphy reveals the five greatest sledges he heard during his career

Published by
Stephen Marson

Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy is one of the most loved players across the competition, but that doesn't mean the 295-gamer is exempt from being sledged from time to time.

Speaking on SEN on Wednesday morning, Murphy revealed the five greatest sledges he's been on the receiving end of on the field, with renowned talker Stevie J only coming in at number two on the list.

Nick Riewoldt

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 25: Nick Riewoldt of the Saints issues instructions during the round 14 AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the Geelong Cats at Etihad Stadium on June 25, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

The St Kilda captain was unhappy with a column Murphy wrote a couple of years ago, in which he selected a certain Hawthorn forward over Riewoldt in his best 22 players in the AFL article.

“Halfway through the second quarter we crossed paths and Nick turned to me and said, ‘And you, I’m right off you,’ and he had real passion in his voice,” Murphy said.

“He said, ‘How I didn’t make that 22 is beyond me.’

“As he ran away I just heard under his breath ‘Jack f-ing Gunston’.”

Justin Koschitzke

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 30: Justin Koschitzke of the Saints celebrates after kicking a goal during the round six AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the St Kilda Saints at Etihad Stadium on April 30, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

While Koschitzke “was not renowned as the sharpest thinker or the sharpest with his tongue" according to Murphy, he did come up with this pearler when the two sides met one day.

“At one point we were standing next to each other and he was mouthing off to a younger player about goalscoring and I said, ‘Kosi, mate, you should be the last bloke who is giving a bit of lip.

“He just turned and said, ‘Murph, you’ve got a head the size of a Mintie.

“A minute later the ball got kicked out and I heard over my shoulder, ‘Someone get Mintie’. That’s the essence of a good sledge, it can be quite distracting.”

Jesse Hogan

Jesse Hogan of the Demons kicks the ball during the 2016 AFL Round 18 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Melbourne Demons at Domain Stadium on July 23, 2016 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Murphy was unaware that Hogan actually said this during the game, but it was so good he just had to include it in the countdown.

“The TV cameras picked it up and the public let me know about this one.

“Jesse was having a set shot and I said something to do with him being the great white hope, really highbrow stuff to try to put him off his kick.

“Of course he put it straight through and he ran right past me and said, ‘There’s your great white hope’ (pointing to million-dollar recruit Tom Boyd). Unfortunately, Tom wasn’t going so well and he was being subbed off at the time.”

Steve Johnson

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 12: Steve Johnson of the Giants celebrates a goal during the round 12 AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Sydney Swans at Spotless Stadium on June 12, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

One of the best talkers in the modern game, Johnson just had to make this list, and it was one sledge that required a bit of research from Johnson.

“At one point walked around boundary line and hid behind the point post. He walked up to me afterwards and said, ‘Did you see me sneak on?’. I said, ‘Well, clearly not’ and he just looked at me with a wink and said, ‘It was quite rascallish, wasn’t it?” - the sledge was aimed at Murphy due to his rascal of the week segment on AFL360.

Ben Hudson

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 13: Ben Hudson of the Bulldogs contests a boundary throw in with Patrick Ryder of the Bombers during the round 21 AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Essendon Bombers at Etihad Stadium on August 13, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)

Hudson spent four seasons at the Dogs between 2008-2011, and Murphy believes he was the greatest of them all.

“Ben Hudson was the greatest sledger I ever played with,” Murphy said.

“We played Richmond one night and Ben was prolific, he was constant and pretty harsh, and he picked on some young Richmond kid, who shall remain nameless ... about being ugly, basically.

“He just kept at him and at him and within earshot of me and the umpire Huddo said, ‘Mate you’re so ugly, you’re almost as ugly as Murph’.

“The Richmond player looked at me, I looked at him, the umpire looked at both of us and we all started laughing, it was a bit of a fiasco.”

Published by
Stephen Marson