Western Bulldogs champion Bob Murphy has called for Gold Coast’s youngsters to stay and help shape the club’s future.
The Suns have lost several key players who were taken high in the draft with Jack Martin and Callum Ah Chee the latest talents requesting to be traded.
With Jack Lukosius and Ben King – taken with picks No.2 and 6 in the 2018 draft – yet to re-sign beyond 2020, Murphy says it’s time the current crop bucked the trend.
“I would lay down the challenge to Ben King and his teammates to stay,” Murphy told SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“Because of all the players who have gone before him, it’s easier to leave the Gold Coast Suns. Jack Martin leaves this year; seemingly just walks out the door … Callum Ah Chee, he just walks out the door.
“It’s almost an accepted view of they want to go and have some success. Do we need to just stop and pause and think about what a privilege it is? Not just to be picked on an AFL list, but to build a football club is an enormous privilege that we do not give enough credit to.
“They get to shape and build a football club that is hopefully there for 100 years, maybe even more. I challenge Ben King and his teammates, those young players, to stay.”
Murphy finds it hard to sympathise with players who look to engineer moves away from interstate clubs due to homesickness.
“You sign up to be drafted by the AFL, this is a national competition,” he said.
“You’re a professional footballer, you get paid a lot of money, you get picked to play for Gold Coast, you go to the Gold Coast.
“This whole homesickness thing … sorry … this is the big league.”
Listen to Monday’s edition of Bob and Andy in the player below