AFTER declaring himself one of the club's biggest supporters upon announcing his retirement, Robert Murphy revealed he is yet to watch a replay of the Western Bulldogs' 2016 premiership triumph.
It's been well documented a knee injury prevented him taking his place in the team, and while the football world celebrated the Bulldogs' inspiring achievement, it also lamented the fact the club's leader – in name and spirit – won't be officially recognised as part of the historic occasion.
While fellow Bulldogs faithful have probably worn out their DVD of that momentous afternoon last October, Murphy is still waiting for the urge to relive such a bittersweet day.
WATCH: Distinguished Dog calls it a day
"When I do watch it one day, it will be emotional, and it will ache that I didn't have my footy boots on," Murphy said at his retirement announcement on Tuesday.
"To not be one of the 22, there's definitely a bit of a hole in the heart there, for sure.
"But also, the fact that there is no bigger Bulldogs supporter than me."
While he suggested inviting himself around to coach Luke Beveridge's house might be a fitting way to recount the day, his close confidant stressed premiership-winning contributions weren't limited to the 22 players who took the field on Grand Final day.
Beveridge pointed to the disarray that greeted him upon his appointment at Whitten Oval after his predecessor Brendan McCartney was sacked and the defection of then captain Ryan Griffin to Greater Western Sydney.
"The premiership was built off momentum, and people forget what he did in 2015 – an All Australian captain when we needed leadership and guidance," Beveridge said.
"We needed a new trail to be blazed, and he was the one that took us in that new direction, so the (premiership was built off that).
"So as much as he didn't take the field as part of the 22, we wouldn’t have got there without him, so that's really important to note."
Clearly appreciative of his mentor's praise, deep down, Murphy knows unless the Bulldogs once again defy expectations and become back-to-back premiers, his highly-respected career will conclude with a void.
However, a mutual respect for his coach and a "unique" playing group, gives Murphy a positive outlook on the future.
"If I've learnt anything over the past 18 years is that you never quite know what's around the corner, and there's still a lot of optimism and spirit in this footy club," he said.
"I think our best as a footy team is some of the best footy I've ever seen, so we just live in hope we can find the cogs to make it click again.
"If I'm not a premiership player there'll be a sense of emptiness there but I gave it everything I had, but I still have enormous pride in last year's premiership."
