CARLTON skipper Marc Murphy says he is relieved to have re-signed with the Blues before the start of the 2014 season, knowing he can now avoid speculation about his free agency status.
Carlton coach Mick Malthouse confirmed on Thursday at Visy Park that Murphy had re-signed for another four years, binding him to the Blues to the end of 2018.
Murphy, 26, was set to become a restricted free agent at the end of this season, but had been in contract talks with the Blues for the past few months and was never considered likely to leave.
"I didn't want it (speculation) to hang over my head or the club's head for this season, so I think the timing of it has been great," Murphy said.
"To get it over and done with before the season is very important for myself and the club."
Murphy will now avoid the type of constant speculation that surrounded Travis Cloke in his drawn-out – but ultimately successful – contract negotiations with Collingwood in 2012.
However, the Blues still have five players set to become free agents at the end of this season: Bryce Gibbs, Kade Simpson, Michael Jamison, Heath Scotland and Jarrad Waite.
South Australian Gibbs has already been linked with Adelaide and Port Adelaide, but Murphy said he was confident Gibbs and his fellow free agents would all re-sign with the Blues.
"We all want to stick together and play some really good footy here at the Carlton footy club," Murphy said.
"I'm very confident those guys will sign on with the club."
Back spasms prevented Murphy from attending Wednesday's AFL captains' day in Adelaide, but the Blues skipper said he would be fit to play in Friday's practice game against the Western Bulldogs.
"I just had a back spasm on Tuesday. I've had it a couple of times over the last couple of years," Murphy said.
"I'm not getting old, but I did it last time putting on my shoelaces.
"Unfortunately, I missed out on going to Adelaide, but the back's feeling fine today and I'll have a run tomorrow against the Bulldogs.
"Hopefully, it doesn't happen again, but it's just a 24-hour thing where the back seized up and I just had to lie flat on my back for a few hours."
Carlton also announced Acquire Learning would be its shorts sponsor in 2014.
